Asheville artist who evacuated to Raleigh describes damage to River Arts District

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Asheville’s River Arts District, a creative hub known across the country, is now heavily damaged from Hurricane Helene.

Artist David Sheldon, who shows his work at the Mark Bettis Gallery, had no power and cell reception in his South Asheville home, so he had no concept of the damage to the River Arts District until reaching the area by bike Saturday.

“Seeing the level of rise of the French Broad River, it was like it just became a monster,” Sheldon said. “It was still just like a bulldozer going through the entire area. It’s just surreal to sit there, above there, and be completely helpless watching this beautiful area get decimated the way it was.”

While the gallery with his work wasn’t harmed, many artists aren’t as fortunate. The River Arts District said most of the 26 buildings are heavily damaged.

“Knowing that all your artist friends work and supplies, their livelihoods were literally getting washed away down there below you, it was a terrible thing to watch,” Sheldon said.

When Sheldon learned it would be several days before his power came back, he decided to make the trip to Raleigh, needing power to keep his cat’s insulin refrigerated. During that drive he said the scale of the storm was apparent, seeing damage in town after town.

“It was all luck because I -40 had just suffered a landslide and they had just cleared the landslide when we approached I-40,” Sheldon said. “We were able to get out.”

Sheldon is eager to get back there in a few days to help artists salvage whatever is left.

“I’m very inspired by some of the responses I’m seeing from fellow artists who’ve had their whole studio gallery wiped out and said we’re just going to rebuild,” Sheldon said. “We’re creative, we’re creatives. Let’s get creative and get this going again.”

The River Arts District has a hurricane relief fund found here .

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