Kristin Schoonover (she/her) - Asheville, NC
Kristin Schoonover grew up on Long Island, then attended Alfred University where she graduated in 2001 with a BFA in ceramics. Soon after graduating, she relocated to Asheville, NC where she began her pottery business in 2004. Currently, she maintains a studio in Asheville's River Arts District. Her work can be found at Clayspace Co-op in the Wedge Building.
Guest at Lisa Guiliani’s studio
Website: benyopottery.com
Instagram: @kristinschoonoveravl
Hurricane Helene
Kristin was among the many artists whose lives were upended by the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. The storm caused widespread damage to homes, studios, and galleries, while also cutting off access to roads, electricity, and water. It severely disrupted creative livelihoods, leaving many uncertain about how to rebuild. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Kristin’s resilience shines through. We are grateful she shared her experience of hardship, loss, and the journey toward recovery. We are also thrilled to have her join us at the Mo’town Studio Tour, where she will be selling her beautiful handmade wares. In Kritin’s words…
Thank you for welcoming Rose and me to this year's Mo' Town Studio Tour. Any other year, I would be in Asheville, preparing for the busy weekends in the River Arts District. However, this year, Asheville and the River Arts District are just beginning the long process of rebuilding. My studiomates and I at Clayspace Co-op were fortunate to be part of the 20% of artists who were not displaced by the flooding. While our shop was spared from destruction, our source of income has been impacted by the lack of tourism and the cancellation of many craft shows and events during what is typically our busiest season.
As some of us are able to go back to work, in the back of our minds is everyone dealing with the loss of loved ones, still clearing out the toxic mud, or finding out their homes aren’t covered by insurance because of flood exclusions, even though their homes are on the side of a mountain. The way I’ve been coping is by trying to help my artist community as much as I can. I’m working to connect displaced clay artists with studios that can adopt them while they figure out their futures, and I’m also collecting tools to help them rebuild.
Aside from how I was directly affected by the storm, the broader impact that Hurricane Helene has had on Western North Carolina is impossible to move past. The loss of lives, homes, and businesses among friends and our community is so immense. As schools are only just starting to reopen, it has been hard to return to life as it was. WNC is such a special place, filled with compassionate and resilient neighbors, and we’ve received so much support from across the country. I know we’ll rebound from this, but it will never quite be the same.
