Crafting a Comeback: Lowe’s Holiday Pop-Up Aids Artisans in Recovery

"We had friends who had power up on Riverside …so we went there. We were overlooking Riverview Station and we could see our studio window…" She paused to fight back tears. "We can see our studio window and the water is up to the top of the stairs on the second floor. We knew at that point that this was horrible, and water was in the studio."

Hundertmark, whose artist name is Kim Self, lost her studio space, 30 years' worth of glass art designs and approximately $1,000 of artistry books, many of which are no longer in print.

Unfortunately, she wasn't alone. Hundertmark also serves as the executive director of the River Arts District Artists, Inc. (RADA), a non-profit member organization made up of more than 300 local artists. Following the storm, she checked on artists throughout the district.

"About 80% of the studios were damaged or lost," she said. "14 of 24 buildings were severely damaged."

To make matters worse, the hurricane hit right at the beginning of the peak selling season for the RAD artists, washing away a significant portion of their yearly income.

"Our biggest season as artists is from October through December," said Hundertmark. "We make 70% of our sales in the final part of the year."

As a company that calls North Carolina home - and one that started as a small business itself - Lowe's knew it could help. On Nov. 30, Small Business Saturday, Lowe's hosted a Holiday Pop-Up event at its store in West Asheville, featuring 27 artists (including two Lowe's associates) from the RAD who were impacted by the storm. Lowe's supplied the participating artisans with $1,000 grants to help replenish their supplies and inventory, and a table and tent at the event to sell both existing pieces and commissions.

Hundreds of shoppers browsed the market as festive Christmas music played, looking at everything from hand-blown glass vases and ceramic balloons to wooden cutting boards and energy-infused gemstone bracelets. Event attendees also enjoyed food from The Smokin' Onion, a local restaurant that closed its storefront to send its food truck out to support the event.

And while shoppers left with smiling faces and gifts checked off their holiday lists, the artists were even more enthused.

Spencer Beals is a full-time sketch artist whose studio was completely decimated by flooding. Despite losing most of his original paintings, art and vendor supplies, and more, he was all smiles at the event as he talked about his Holiday Pop-Up experience.

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