CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the months since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, people across the Carolinas and beyond have stepped up to help communities recover.
Artists and artisans are among those feeling the financial ripple effects of the hurricane. Fall is typically a big time for tourism in western North Carolina, and many artisans rely on this time of year for sales — but many events and opportunities like the Spruce Pine Potters Market were canceled in the aftermath.
Potter Julie Wiggins said artists in Avery County and Mitchell County typically make 60%-70% of their income at events like the Spruce Pine Potter's Market.
An event this weekend in Charlotte is aimed at helping address that loss.
Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Park Expo and Conference Center, people will have the chance to shop directly from over 30 western North Carolina potters at the WNC Hurricane Relief Potters Market.
"We are feeling so overwhelmed by all the support that everyone has rallied to try to make, allow us to get back on track and to make up for our lost time," Wiggins said.
The event is a collaboration between Rhe Mint Museum, Spruce Pine Potters Market, NC Pottery Center, Odyssey Clayworks, Potters of Madison County, and Toe River Arts District. Vince Long is a volunteer helping with the event.
"North Carolina has really strong pottery traditions, and they're doing a great job of keeping this art form alive and thriving, but, you know, they're also trying to make a living and they need that support," Long said.
Each potter participating in the event has suffered damage to their homes and studios or has lost income due to event cancellations in the hurricane's wake.
"A lot of these potters dropped everything in the hurricane and even if they didn't have personal losses, they dedicated the next two or two and a half months, they've been doing nothing but helping their communities recover right now," Long said.
Wiggins has been making "NC STRONG" ornaments to raise money for hurricane relief, and said she noticed artists were quick to jump in and help communities recover and rebuild after the hurricane.
"We were out of work, the artists were activated, we're makers, we're connectors, we care about our community, and it was an artist-led effort," Wiggins said. "It wasn't just me, it was my friends in the community that we worked together to be able to elevate the relief work and bridge gaps."
Wiggins was able to support over 300 families just days after the storm thanks to a truckload of food, water, cleaning supplies, camping stoves, tents and generators from her hometown of Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Wiggins said all of the work she will have in the potters market event in Charlotte was made after the hurricane, so there is "a different energy to it."
"There were days in the studio, I just cried because I was struggling getting back to work knowing there's still so much work to be done," she said. "But I know that I'm a maker and the objects I make, I'm making to bring joy."
Admission is free to the event, and no ticket is required — but donations are accepted. Proceeds from sales go directly to the artists, and any donations made go to benefit organizations supporting relief in western North Carolina, as chosen by the participating potters.
"I think that everyone will feel an appreciation for the resilience of all these folks to keep going at a time when it's been just really hard," Long said. "To see that they're still producing beautiful work that they've ... there's a market for this. You know, people want to see these potters succeed."
Wiggins said she's felt that appreciation in the weeks since the hurricane, and is grateful for the continued support as western North Carolina continues to recover.
"I get pretty emotional talking about it — our hearts are expanding and we feel so supported by our community, not just potters, but people who love us and have come to collect our work and consider us family," Wiggins said. "It's really something."
Contact Emma Korynta at ekorynta@wcnc.com and follow her on Instagram and X .