Love Asheville from Afar at Ponce City Market in Atlanta

Love Asheville from Afar – a pop-up art gallery featuring works from Asheville artists with studios in the city’s River Arts District, an area devastated by Hurricane Helene – is opening at Ponce City Market on Thursday, December 5. Located next to City Winery at 650 North Avenue NE Suite S102, Atlanta, GA 30308, the 3,600-square-foot gallery will be open 11am-7pm Thursday through Sunday through December 29, 2024, and is intended to give Asheville artists an avenue to showcase their work.

One hundred percent of proceeds from art sales at the gallery will benefit artists affected by the hurricane, either because they were displaced, lost works, or were financially impacted by the loss of visitors. 

To celebrate the opening, the pop-up gallery will host a free and open-to-the-public party with participating artists featuring music by LEAF Global Arts and DJs Zati and Mesi, drinks courtesy of New Belgium Brewing, Burial Beer Co., and Chemist Spirits, and festive nibbles by French Broad Chocolates – recently named one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” for 2024 – on Thursday, December 5 from 5-8pm. All are invited to drop in! 

Love Asheville from Afar will feature a range of art for sale, including visual art, sculptures and more, from artists impacted by Hurricane Helene such as Kevin Andrew, Molly Sawyer, Shela Anmuth, Colton Dion, Zati, Amanda Emery, Parker Pfister, and Elizabeth Porritt Carrington. The gallery will also host live paintings and other events throughout the month.

The pop-up gallery is made possible thanks to River Arts District Artists (RADA) Foundation, The Radical Hotel, Explore Asheville and Jamestown.

“Today, Asheville is open – still stunning and standing – and Love Asheville from Afar will bring a little of what makes our town so special to Ponce City Market, all while supporting the Asheville artist community,” Vic Isley, President & CEO of Explore Asheville, said. “As Asheville comes back stronger than ever this winter, we can’t wait to welcome visitors to the River Arts District.”

Anyone looking to support the River Arts District is invited to make a donation to the RADA Foundation, whose mission is to support the efforts of the River Arts District artists and following the hurricane, to support, sustain and help rebuild Asheville’s River Arts District.

Inspired and surrounded by the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina has been a hub for creative arts and quality craft-making since its founding. The city’s River Arts District is home to more than 300 artist studios and galleries. On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene struck Asheville, a mountain town 300 miles from any ocean, killing over 100 people and causing millions of dollars of damage. Flooding from the French Broad River overtook hundreds of artist spaces and diminished this year’s tourism season on which many Asheville artists depend.

About Asheville

Asheville is where unrivaled natural beauty and bold creative expression meet. Tucked away in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, the city is steps away from some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and the tallest peaks in the East. For generations, Asheville has nurtured and inspired a compassionate and resilient community that’s deeply rooted and ever-evolving.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the resilient artists, makers, chefs, performers and shop owners of Asheville are calling visitors back as business, hotels and major attractions reopen and seasonal festivities are announced, including art markets and holiday events. Downtown Asheville, largely untouched by storm, and the North River Art District are open and welcoming visitors to be a part of the comeback. Plan your trip with heart at ExploreAsheville.com.

About Ponce City Market

Ponce City Market is a five-building, three-million-square-foot community hub in Atlanta, Georgia. The mixed-use property, located along Ponce de Leon Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward, features a dynamic blend of local and world-class food and retail offerings, Class A office space, and suite of residential and hospitality living options. With public green space and direct access to the Atlanta Beltline, Ponce City Market has become a defining marker of place in Atlanta’s urban landscape and iconic destination for area residents and visitors.

Reflecting Atlanta’s evolving identity, Ponce City Market brings together the old and new in one integrated community – with a buzzing food hall at its core. The property includes the adaptive reuse of an historic Sears, Roebuck, and Co. store and distribution center, as well as a series of newly constructed buildings with modern amenities and design features.

For more information, visit: poncecitymarket.com.