When my photographer friend Bruce McCamish asked the Badger if he wished to donate artwork to the Arts for Hope 2024 benefit for Hurricane Helene relief efforts, the response became a project and then an unforgettable event this past Friday night.

“And, Bruce, would you like for me to donate A Hawksbill Dream?” was the Badger reply. “And, yes, Rock Sprite Kitty Myers and I will find artwork for the benefit auction salvaged from the historic flooding of the French Broad River.”

We did. We visited the studio of artist Julie Armbruster who rescued her treasured piece named Tributaries – a prescient creation with an uncanny theme made eight months before the disaster. Her work was auctioned and immediately sold. Kitty donated a recovered work named The Moon is Always Full by River Arts District artist Jocelyn Mosser which also sold quickly.

Knoxville is my hometown and I was thrilled to see classmate Jenny Bise Snodgrass at the event as well as my friend and famous Knoxville photographer Gary Heatherly. Co-host Mark Carson English shown with his prolific talent. Mountainways provided the premises and will facilitate the transfer of funds to the hurricane victims.

To say that we were thrilled to participate is an undeniable understatement. Bruce, Mark and Mountainways put on a tremendous event that featured the work of 130 local artists. To be one of that number is an honor and for that honor to benefit our relief community is humbling and profound.

Neighbors helping neighbors – it just doesn’t get any better.

See more at Facebook posting.

Thomas Mabry – Honey Badger Images. Many of the HoneyBadgerImages are on display at instagram.com/honeybadgerimages.