A Tale of Two Cities
On the anniversaries of Hurricanes Helene and Katrina, artists from Western North Carolina and New Orleans unite in response to the existential crisis of our times.
On the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene and the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts has invited Asheville’s artists to join with New Orleans artists in reflecting on nature’s devastating fury and the process required to rebuild cultural assets and human connection. Art creation is about soulful reflection and passionate creation. The passion in the making and the appreciation of art bring us together and lift our spirits. This spirit of creation and response, of understanding an artist’s attempt to find beauty in the existential crisis of our times, evokes the thread of understanding that will see us through the further cataclysmic events our communities must surely face. As two cities devastated by Mother Nature, we must learn from each other and support one another if we are to continue to thrive as cultural magnets of the mountains and coast.
A Tale of Two Cities opens Sept. 13 at the New Orleans Academy of Art and runs through Nov. 8, 2025. For more information or to inquire about purchasing, contact The New Orleans Academy of Art here. Please note that artists from Asheville and Western North Carolina will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from their respective sales.