Community Writing Initiative Reflects on Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
In the heart of Marshall, a creative venture has taken root at Marshall High Studios. This local art hub, nestled in the small town, has become the epicenter of a community writing project, launched by artist Lauren Rutten earlier this year. The initiative provides a reflective space for residents to recount their experiences following Hurricane Helene.
Save This Piece, an exhibit by Rutten, showcases 72 poignant photographs captured during the hurricane cleanup. Rutten’s work captures the essence of beauty amidst chaos. “Beautiful in the midst of everything that was really ugly,” she described.
Commemorating a year since the storm’s impact, Rutten transformed Room 105 into a quiet sanctuary. Here, visitors are invited to ponder the photographs that adorn the walls, each embellished with delicate gold leaf line work, a process Rutten describes as, “representative of that, in the midst of everything that challenges us, whether it’s external or internal, we have this beautiful capacity to heal.”
Residents have flocked to the exhibit, each finding personal solace. Rutten recalls a visitor who, after engaging with the exhibit, realized how much the experience was needed. “It’s been very interesting to see some people come in and they really take it in,” she said, “and they sit down and they read the prompts and they feel that they need more time.”
The small town of Marshall, home to fewer than 1,000 people, bore the brunt of the storm’s destruction, with the French Broad River rising over 20 feet, leaving Main Street in disrepair.
During the cleanup efforts, Rutten documented the resilience of the community through her camera lens, while also participating in recovery efforts by shoveling mud and distributing safety gear.
Marshall High Studios, situated on a 10-acre island in the French Broad River, has a rich history. Originally Marshall High School, the building was saved from demolition by artist Rob Pulleyn in 2006 and reopened in 2007 after extensive renovations. It currently houses 26 artist studios and an auditorium, attracting a vibrant community of creatives.
After Hurricane Helene inundated the studios with eight to nine feet of water, causing approximately $800,000 in damage, efforts to restore the site have been ongoing. Tenants, including Rutten, returned in July, eager to reignite the artistic spirit. Rutten expressed optimism, stating, “It feels like we’re at this spark that is igniting for newness and continuing the creativity that manifests through here and through the people who work here and call this their studio space.”
The exhibit will remain open until October 29, both at the Studios and in a unique location—the telephone booth at the Old Marshall Jail across the bridge. Rutten envisions compiling the responses and photographs into a book in the future.
