ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A local art studio is leading a community art project of healing.
“They’re the things that we love to make and there’s lots of love that goes into them. So, to be walking on people’s product was pretty heartbreaking,” Local Cloth retail chair Beth Sellars said.
Thousands of hours of hard work lost in a thick layer of mud.
Looms destroyed.
Furniture tossed about.
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“The table that I actually had in my booth was an older table that was wood and it lifted it up and spun it around a few times and it landed right up here,” said Sellars.
Thanks to community help, Sellers says they were able to reopen last September.
“We have great members that are very generous and we had some grants. So, we were able to put everything kind of back together, but a little bit better,” said Sellars.
Now the community is helping the studio with an art project marking the height reached by floodwater during Helene.
AUG. 8, 2026 – The community is helping a local art studio, Local Cloth, with an art project marking the height reached by floodwater during Helene. The studio hosted a drop-in event where people could stop by and make fiber art strips for the project. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
“When it went under, I was really sad. I cried and I was really afraid they weren’t going to come back, but now that they are back, I’m very happy and I want to participate,” said Celine Vivero, an artist contributing to the project.
She attended a drop-in activity the studio hosted where people could stop by and make fiber art strips that they’ll add to the project.
“Everyone who’s a member of Local Cloth was making a little 6″ x 2″ piece and we plan on putting it all around the studio, which is a lot of those pieces,” said Sellars.
She says the strips will be placed side-by-side along the waterline inside the building.
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“Above the waterline, we’re above it. We’re going to conquer it,” said Carol Jensen, contributor to the art project.
Don’t worry if you weren’t at the drop-in activity; they’re taking submissions through September 1.
People can drop their fiber art strips off at Local Cloth, located at 408 Depot Street #100 in Asheville.
They’re going to dedicate the project on September 27.