Starting over after the Storm
Resilience after Helene
On September 27th, 2024, Hurricane Helene bombarded the southeastern United States. In Asheville, NC, the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers overflowed, flooding most of the city, while mudslides, wind, and airborne debris destroyed everything else. Thankfully, my family and I were staying in Oregon when the hurricane hit, but I lost everything that was not with me at the time. My home is now unlivable, my art and businesses were washed away, and this singular storm erased my entire income.
As the reality of all this weighed on me, I questioned what I should do next and how I needed to move forward. Since we were already in Oregon, it made sense for my family to stay and make this place our new home. As for me and my art studio, I will start again.
Funding the Studio Rebuild
I am no stranger to hurricane storms or their damage. The routine of using candles as a last defense against the darkness is one of the few positive memories I have of those moments.
With so many households still waiting for electricity to be restored, I was driven to create something that might share that distinctive feeling of hope.
While rebuilding my studio after the storm, I remained committed to the sustainable materials and zero-waste studio practices that have long guided my work. For those interested, you can read more about my full sustainable resin art process here.
After considering what I could create, I decided that a faceted tealight candle holder would honor my intentions and ability without sacrificing quality.
More than just a means to rebuild my practice, every tealight candle holder you purchase shares the idea that even the smallest light is a spark of hope.
The holders come in two sizes and six different color combinations. I will begin production once the number of tealight holders purchased exceeds ten. It will take me a few weeks to complete the first orders.
