November 2025 Round-up: Sharing Food, Crafting Community, Seeking Asylum
In this issue: artisan tablescaping, the Afghan Women’s Craft Collective, plus open letters from the RAD's Jeffrey Burroughs and Center for Craft's Stephanie Moore.
This November, I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible artists we have the honor of serving and for the beautiful work they create. I am also thankful for the safety and security I have, especially when so many others lack these basic privileges—like the asylum seekers from Afghanistan who have found a home here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or those in Jamaica feeling the stress of climate disaster, a reality we understand all too well after Hurricane Helene.
As we gather around our holiday tables to celebrate the joys of homemade and handmade treasures, may we remember to uplift those in our communities who may be struggling. Just as the parable of stone soup reminds us, we all have something to offer; when we come together, we can create something truly worthwhile.
Read our November newsletter to the end for community resources and discover how you can get more involved in making a difference.
A Tale of Two Hurricanes: ‘When the Water Rises, Artists Rise, Too’
As the ArtsvilleUSA-supported exhibition A Tale of Two Cities drew to a close on Saturday, Nov. 8, we shared the following open letter from fine jeweler Jeffrey Burroughs, President of the River Arts District Artists and founding Member of RADA Foundation and Unified RAD. As a participating artist, Burroughs spoke during the exhibition's opening weekend on Sept. 12-13 and offers his reflections on the experience below. View the archived virtual exhibition on ArtsvilleUSA.
It is a true honor to be here in New Orleans for A Tale of Two Cities and to stand in a room with artists, thinkers, and visionaries who know in their bones that art is more than decoration. It is survival. It is resilience. It is how we remember who we are. I want to thank our hosts at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, ArtsvilleUSA, and my own community, the River Arts District Artists in Asheville, North Carolina. The fact that our two cities are connected in this exhibition is profoundly meaningful. Both places are shaped by water. Both have seen devastation. And both know what it means to rebuild not just structures, but spirit.
Read the rest of Jeffrey Burroughs’ open letter here.
Learning to Breathe Again: After Helene, Art Exhibition is ‘A Moving Classroom’
As the ArtsvilleUSA-supported exhibition A Tale of Two Cities drew to a close on Saturday, Nov. 8, we shared the following open letter from Stephanie Moore, the Director of the Center for Craft. Moore attended the exhibition's opening weekend on Sept. 12-13 and offers her reflections on the experience below. View the archived virtual exhibition on ArtsvilleUSA.
A year after Helene, the details blur. I vividly remember one image: driving over the French Broad and seeing only the tips of buildings where artist studios and businesses hummed. In the months that followed, I did what executive directors do—steadied my voice, held the line, kept the team moving. We raised and distributed over $1.4 million for artists’ relief and recovery, and I learned the strange skill of caring fiercely while staying just numb enough to function.
Read the rest of Stephanie Moore’s open letter here.
Holiday Tablescaping: 12 Artisan Finds for a Memorable Celebration
Table setting consists of multiple layers, but the number is ultimately up to the host. These layers can include a tablecloth and table runner, a centerpiece, serving dishes, and candles. Additionally, there may be placemats, chargers, plates, napkins, silverware, and drinkware. While none of these individual elements are strictly necessary for an enjoyable meal, using a new set of napkins can garner a lot of lovely comments, whether you're in a formal dining room or casually watching a game from the couch.
Here are a few talented artists from Western North Carolina who can help you refine your holiday table and everyday decor.
Explore local tablescaping decor here.
Afghan Women’s Craft Collective
In Afghan culture, even strangers’ plates are piled high with fragrant rice dishes and richly spiced vegetables before anyone else takes a bite. Traditionally, communal meals are enjoyed on a dastarkhan—a tablecloth spread on the ground—where guests are seated on plush cushions, indulged with bottomless refills, and wooed by a chorus of warm conversation. Afghan hospitality is legendary. Even a short visit is cause for tea, or chai, with neighbors, extended family, and soon-to-be-friends.
“It’s expected that you’ll stay, at least for tea,” says Molly Dingledine of Sisters in Circles, an Asheville nonprofit that supports local Afghan women. “Sometimes a meal and a long conversation. Or not a conversation if they don’t speak English well enough. But always tea.”
Read the whole story here.
News + Notes From Asheville and Beyond
Here’s where we share quick craft bites for busy hands and hungry minds. With the holiday season in full swing, we’re highlighting essential community resources for those in need this month.
Community Resources
- NC211: Call 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org for local food pantries and emergency food resources.
- NCDHHS Food Access: Explore North Carolina’s network of regional food banks and their partner networks of food pantries, meal providers, and nonprofit organizations.
- YMCA Mobile Markets: The Y provides fresh, healthy food to the community through mobile markets at various community locations across five counties.
- Findhelp: Use Foodhelp’s zip code-based search engine to find local food pantries, housing, meal assistance, financial assistance, and health care.
Support WNC’s Craft Community
- Haywood County Arts Council Small Works Exhibition: Held in partnership with ArtsvilleUSA, the annual HCAC Small Works Exhibition runs through Jan. 6, 2026, at the Ferguson Family YMCA. Shop the online auction here.
- Ferguson Holiday Bazaar: The Ferguson Family YMCA is hosting its inaugural Holiday Bazaar on December 4, 2025, from 8 am to 12 pm, free to the community. Support local artists featured in the HCAC Small Works Exhibition and beyond, and get the perfect holiday present for the art lovers in your life.
- Volunteer Survey: ArtsvilleUSA is seeking support from individuals looking to help us grow. Do you have time and talents in fundraising, outreach, event support, graphic design, or social media? You can make a real difference in promoting and strengthening Western North Carolina's craft community. Please fill out our short survey to let us know how you want to make a difference.
Special Thanks to Our Partners
All images published with permission of the artist(s); featured image: Sisters in Circles.