NOVEMBER 9, SATURDAY

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT SOFT OPENING

On both Saturday and Sunday the River Arts District, which had been so badly flooded by Helene over a month ago tried to draw visitors by opening up again. But what this meant was the River Arts District, divided by railroad tracks running through it was simply demonstrating that the 20% of the artists’ studios that were above the flood line which was pretty much determined by the railroad as a kind of raised wall were untouched. The lights were on brightly, there was music, drinks were being served and there were food trucks and even cafes that were filled with people. The artists in these studios were eager to show off their art. The buildings on the river side of the railroad tracks, the former industrial warehouses and factories of Asheville, were shuttered, dark and desolate. The lucky open studios also set aside some of their space for artists whose studios were on the unlighted side of the railroad tracks. These were the displaced artists. Most of them had lost almost everything and so had very small displays of whatever they had been able to remove before the flood or had in their homes. A few were in spaces in the untouched studios and a number of them had booths set up in tents outside.

There were huge crowds of people on each day, here to see for themselves the damage and eager to support the artists of the River Arts District. The 20% need customers. Local people support them but at a time when Asheville is normally at its peak tourist season their are very few tourists. The 80% whose buildings were flooded and often completely destroyed wonder what they are going to do next. It will be months before their studios will be restored, if they ever will. Asheville is a afraid that many artists will move away.

L