BOONE, N.C. — Angelia Wilson cannot change the past. But in a small way, she’s painting a better future for her devastated community.
Wilson, an art professor at Appalachian State University, recently began thinking of a way she could give back to artists impacted by Helene.
“An artist without their supplies is lost,” Wilson said.
This week, Wilson began collecting materials at her paint-and-sip business, Let’s Be Artsy. She plans to give away whatever is collected to those who lost their supplies during the storm.
Wilson is also opening her studio doors to artists who need a place to create. She is offering her space to them free of charge.
“To me, art heals anything,” Wilson said. “It can heal anything you’re going through.”
Last year, Wilson lost some of her supplies when a water line broke in her studio. Still, she said the loss was nothing compared to what people are dealing with now.
“There are still hundreds of people trapped in their own homes without anything,” Wilson said as she fought back tears. “For me, that’s hard to swallow."
If you’d like to donate to Wilson’s efforts you can do so here.