Design Matters: Giving Back to Artists in Need
Author:Lindsey ShookFor me, one of the most fulfilling parts of my job as an editor is showcasing the work of artisans and craftspeople who make iconic works of art that forever shift the landscape of design. For years now, I have had the pleasure of knowing designer and furniture maker Casey Johnson, who handcrafts outstanding, curvaceous wood furniture pieces at a studio in Black Mountain, North Carolina. His work has influenced many makers to defy traditional approach to craft while supporting the lives of the team that helps bring each remarkable piece to life.
If you have been following the news, you have witnessed the tremendous devastation Western North Carolina experienced from Hurricane Helene. So many people have lost their homes and businesses, with no clear path to recovery in sight.
Unfortunately hurricane Helene completely wiped out the community of Black Mountain, leaving many without something as simple as running water. While he lost the roads to and from his home, luckily, Casey’s studio was left untouched, however much of his staff was not so lucky. He is pushing to get back to work so that his team and other woodworkers in the area can finish existing jobs and generate new projects in order to rebuild their community. He is currently raising money so that he can pay his team and hire others who need work right now. Please consider donating HERE in support of his efforts, or if you prefer to donate to the community-at-large, you can donate to Beloved Asheville. We cannot be successful, creative design leaders without artists like Casey Johnson.
