A Holiday Benefit for the Appalachia Funders Network

TL;DR:

• What: Join The New Futurists for a benefit for the Appalachia Funders Network Hurricane Helene Response Fund

• Where: Peel Gallery, 708 W. Rosemary St., Carrboro, NC 27510

• When: Wednesday, December 18th from 6:00PM-8:00PM

• Hosted by: Ben Bolling and Jon Cochran

• Featuring: Music by DJ Craig Layabout, art from the New Futurists’ studio, refreshments, and a silent auction

• 100% of all donations go to the Appalachia Funders Network!

Since I first took up digital illustration in 2015, I’ve done a portrait of Powell Valley, Virginia every holiday season for my parents.

As I’ve said in my writing here (and pretty much everywhere else), no matter where I am physically, my imagination is in Appalachia. And specifically, right down there in Powell Valley.

I spent the first eighteen years of my life on Skeens Ridge, the little knoll that rolls down the center of the valley along the edge of Butcher Fork. My bedroom window looked up at Grindstone Ridge, where in the fictional world of the Omniverse, a spaceship crashed and brought with it an age of marvels.

I don’t get back to Powell Valley nearly as much as I’d like since my parents moved to be closer to me for eldercare. During melancholy moments this time of year, I inevitably think about Truman Capote’s short story “A Christmas Memory,” and one of its closing lines: “Home is where my friend is, and there I never go.” I think home, for me, will always be on the side of that ridge. Though I now visit it more in my mind as I sketch the light along the tops of the trees than by digging my boots into the steep hillside of my dad’s raspberry patch.

I love this place and the people who call it home so fiercely.

As most of our readers know, Central Appalachia took a major hit from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Over 200 people lost their lives, thousands of Appalachian residents were displaced, and current estimates put total damages from the storm at over $225 billion.

As of this writing, the United States Congress has failed to pass emergency relief or properly support FEMA’s efforts in the region. Meanwhile, in my current state of North Carolina– which faced some of the most devastating impacts of the storm– Republican state legislators have used a relief bill to advance a political power grab so craven it would make Jesse Helms blush.

Meanwhile, in some of the hardest hit areas, residents continue to grapple with food shortages, lack of clean water, housing insecurity, and the collapse of critical infrastructure– all as winter settles in.

In The Daily Yonder, Ryan Eller writes: “Years of disinvestment in Central Appalachia left our region ill-prepared for a disaster of this magnitude, leaving many to turn to philanthropic organizations that have answered the call. However, private philanthropy cannot carry the weight of this daunting task. The federal government alone has the ability and authority to mobilize resources at the scale required by a disaster of this magnitude. In this pivotal moment, federal and philanthropic leaders alike must act with urgency and intentionality. Without clarity from the federal government about the scope of its response, philanthropy faces challenges in identifying gaps and determining how best to deploy resources to meet immediate and long-term needs.”

So, what can we do? If you live in the United States, please consider taking just a moment out of your busy day to contact your elected officials. Our good friends at Appalachian Voices make it very easy to take action at this link: https://appvoices.org/actions/helene-recovery-funding/

And I know this is a really weird way to invite you to a party, but…

The New Futurists will host a Holiday Benefit at Peel Gallery in Carrboro, NC on Wednesday, December 18^th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with 100% of every donation going to the Appalachia Funders Network, an organization that seeks to build community capacity, leverage resources into the region, advance food and agriculture systems, promote clean energy and protect natural resources, revitalize downtowns, celebrate arts, and support a culture of health in Appalachia.

On December 18th, we’ll be selling prints, stickers, magnets, and merch from the New Futurists collection. We’ll also have some limited edition prints by Appalachian artist extraordinaire Case Elledge and one of my Powell Valley illustrations printed one-time-only for this event!

We’re very excited to feature some wicked cool silent auction pieces including a 1/1 artist proof of Ezequiel Rubio’s cover for the first chapter of American Gothic: The Hand of Poe and a Visionary-tier exclusive print of Luis Valero-Suarez’s character designs for Into the Omniverse: Series One! Also, I don’t want to hype him too much because he’s shy about his art, but Hubby Jon is creating an original piece for the silent auction and I’ll be damned if any of y’all outbid me!

Did I mention our dear friend DJ Craig Layabout will be spinning a 45 RPM vinyl set of 1965-1975 soul and funk magic? There will be free beer, wine, and holiday snacks! Seriously folks, we’re really setting you up for a good time. If you are in North Carolina’s beautiful Research Triangle on the evening of December 18^th, we’d love to see you.

You can also donate directly to the Appalachia Funders Network at this link: https://appalachianky.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4036

And one last note, we are so excited to be hosting this event with our friends at Peel.

Peel is an art gallery, community event space, digital photography lab, and retail space promoting contemporary art. They are dedicated to supporting the work of emerging, mid-career, and under-recognized artists through diverse programs and unique educational programming. Their shop is a treasure trove— especially if you’re looking to support a small business this holiday season! And Peel’s Annual End-of-the-Year group show has its big opening reception TONIGHT! If you stop by the show, be sure to look me up and say “hello!”

You’ll hear from me again before the end of the year, but thank you to all of our subscribers and gentle readers for your ongoing support. Happiest of holidays to you all!