As part of the Boosting the Block initiative, the City of Asheville has partnered with Echoes of the Forest and YMI Cultural Center to create a new custom-designed bench and marker honoring the collective experiences of Tropical Storm Helene in Western North Carolina. This functional artwork recognizes the impacts of the storm, the communities that leaned on one another in its immediate aftermath, and the enduring role of cultural institutions and community-serving spaces like YMI Cultural Center and The Block as anchors of resilience, connection, and care.Â
The public is invited to join partners for the unveiling taking place Friday, June 19 at 1:00 p.m. outside the YMI Cultural Center located at 39 S. Market, Street in downtown Asheville
Made by artist Kwadwo Som-Pimpong from storm-salvaged white oak, the bench is inspired by traditional Ashanti chief stools, which represent the soul of the people. The design reflects the idea that community wisdom lives in collective gathering, shared memory, and places of belonging.
“Having the opportunity to craft this bench from a Hurricane Helene-felled tree was deeply cathartic. Wood that fell in devastation has been transformed into a place of rest — a fitting way to process the many layers of what my family and our region experienced together,†says local artist Kwadwo Som Pimpong. “Our son was born four days after Helene made landfall. He was our God-given joy in the midst of the storm. This bench is a monument to his entering the world, to my family's Helene journey, and to the journey of this entire region. My hope is that for years to come, many will find in this bench a place of rest and reflection — and that it will stand as a testament to the resilience and renewal taking root in our community. The Boosting the Block initiative is one fine example of that spirit, and I am honored to contribute to it.â€
The bench is supported, in part, by Boosting the Block grant funds from the Mellon Foundation. Boosting the Block is an initiative that invests in The Block's physical and cultural landscape while amplifying a more representative narrative of Asheville's historic Black cultural district. The bench transforms storm-salvaged wood into a place for rest, reflection, and gathering while recognizing The Block as a center of cultural resilience.
“At the onset of this initiative, The Block Collaborative—a group of organizations, businesses, and residents of The Block—asked the City for a bench to symbolize our work in bringing awareness and activation to an historic and often overlooked area within downtown Asheville,†says alexandria monque ravenel, Director of Cultural Programming for the YMI Cultural Center. “Thanks to Kwadwo and Echoes of the Forest, we have so much more than a place of respite. As a work of art, this bench serves as a contemporary nod to the origins of East End / Valley Street Neighborhood, home of The Block, which arose from necessity, resiliency, and joy. ​The design captures the collective effort of YMI Cultural Center and The Block to center both Black legacy and Black futurism as we carry forward the ingenuity of our ancestors. We are honored to be the stewards of this landmark for generations to come.â€
The project was developed in partnership with Echoes of the Forest along with YMI Cultural Center and The Block Collaborative, whose ongoing work supports the stewardship, activation, and care of The Block as a community-serving cultural district. Maintenance of the bench will be supported by the Asheville Downtown Improvement District.Â
“When Tropical Storm Helene tore through our mountains, it left behind both heartbreak and an extraordinary amount of timber — wood that carried the memory of this place and its people,†said Liisa Andreassen, founder, Echoes of the Forest. “Partnering with YMI Cultural Center and the City of Asheville to transform that storm-salvaged wood into a gathering space rooted in Asheville's Black cultural heritage felt like exactly the kind of healing this community deserves. Echoes of the Forest exists to honor what was lost while creating something that endures, and this bench — shaped by Kwadwo's artistry and anchored in The Block — does just that. We are deeply honored to be part of this story.â€Â
About Echoes of the Forest
Echoes of the Forest is a non-profit that takes salvaged Tropical Storm Helene trees and other treasured trees and repurposes them into art by woodworkers and local artists. Proceeds benefit woodworkers, artists and a community that has suffered. https://echoesoftheforest.org/Â
About the Artist: Kwadwo Som-Pimpong, Crafted GloryÂ
Kwadwo believes in enduring quality and timeless beauty. His work reflects his Ghanaian heritage and contemporary design. He values craft authenticity, material storytelling, and design that honors place and heritage. https://www.craftedglory.com/Â
About YMI
The YMI Cultural Center, located in the historic Black business district inAsheville, is the oldest African American cultural center in the United States. Since its inception in 1893 as The Young Men's Institute, YMI continues to represent the culture and heritage of Affrilachian, a term coined in 1991 by Kentucky-based poet and author Frank X Walker, which refers to the existence and contributions of Black people in the mountains. Today, YMI honors the past by elevating community leadership and empowerment for Black Asheville. https://www.ymiculturalcenter.org/Â
About Boosting the Block
Boosting The Block is an initiative managed by the City of Asheville that invests in the physical and cultural landscape of The Block, aiming to amplify a more representative and truthful narrative about the past, present and future of this Black cultural district. The initiative is supported by funding from the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project.
