Safe from the Storm: Memories of Florence

Sep. 12--The Craven Arts Council and the area cultural community have come together to pay tribute to those who suffered through Hurricane Florence by presenting a multi-facet exhibition -- "Safe from the Storm: Memories of Florence."

It is on exhibit for the month of September.

The official community celebration is during Artwalk from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Bank of the Arts, 317 Middle St., New Bern.

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In a bit of hurricane irony, the exhibit had to be taken down last week and temporarily stored in the gallery vault because of the Hurricane Dorian threat.

The list of more than 70 participating artists reads like a who's who of the cultural community -- artists, writers, musicians, singers, photographers, poets and videographers.

The event is also the start of a planned arts council disaster relief fund for artists.

It is being kick-started with proceeds from A planned video of the Bobby Hurff song "New Bern Strong" and sales of a book about President Donald Trump's post-Florence visit to New Bern.

The exhibit remains on display throughout the month.

Here is information about the people and the contributions to "Safe from the Storm: Memories of Florence."

"Whose Boat is This Boat?"

As part of the "Safe from the Storm" exhibition, publisher Simon and Schuster donated 24 copies of "Whose Boat is This Boat? Comments That Don't Help in the Aftermath of a Hurricane," a satirical book by Stephen Colbert, illustrated in children's picture book fashion.

It is based on comments made by President Trump while he walked around the Riverside community in New Bern after Hurricane Florence.

Homeowners Diane and Tink Schaffer, in whose yard the boat landed, will also be present at the ArtWalk to sign copies.

'New Bern Strong:'

Peace Soldier Band founder and lead singer Bobby Hurff, also an artist, lost all his paintings and materials when chest-high Hurricane Florence floodwaters surged through his Hyman Road home last September.

New Bern artist Chris Wagner, known for creating works to assist causes such as breast cancer awareness, used social media and soon had Hurff restocked with paints, brushes and canvases.

That kindness helped inspire Hurff to use his musical talents both in tribute to the people with a song "New Bern Strong," as well as raise money for other artists still recovering from Florence.

He and Peace Soldier recorded the three-minute song with accompaniment by George Oliver and his popular Strung Together family band.

The song will be part of the ongoing musical presentation with the "Safe from the Storm" exhibit.

Hurff, who uses crutches dating to a surfing mishap as a teenager, lost his home and nearly his life to chest-high floodwaters before being rescued by volunteer first responders.

"I wrote the song in one day, and then I called George Oliver and asked if his family band Strung Together would record with me he said sure thing," Hurff said. "I was so honored to have them on this for their home was devastated as well, but our great community was so strong, it inspired me and what I went through."

The chorus is "Cause were New Bern Strong, Yes We're New Bern Strong, You Can't Knock Us Down, We'll Always Stand Our Ground."

"We appreciated the opportunity to be a part of this project," said Oliver, whose Historic District home suffered heavy damage. "Bobby is a great friend of our family band, and every member of our band was affected by Hurricane Florence. Our drummer's family is still not back in their home, and we are still repairing our home. We are grateful to live in a community that was so supportive and helpful as we picked up the pieces and rebuilt. A big part of what makes New Bern such a special place to raise a family."

Seth Smith's song:

Another hurricane-inspired song that will accompany the exhibit via monitor is "Beautiful Blessing," by Seth Smith, lead singer for Hot Buttered Grits.

He recorded the song in Nashville as part of a planned solo October-release of "Seven Seasons."

Smith also lost his home to Florence.

"We've been living in a rental for the past year, and just moved into a new house this week," he said.

He offered some thought behind the song.

"Whereas most songs tend to use a metaphor to express a literal situation or feeling, I tried to reverse engineer it where the song is literal, but sounds like a metaphorical love or breakup song," he said. "There's plenty of songs that compare emotions to a hurricane, but not many that compare hurricanes to emotions. It's basically about finding the beautiful blessings that can come out of a terrible situation."

His writing came from the heart.

"My family lost our home and most of our possessions in Florence, and it was a real bummer," he said. "Nevertheless, we saw and experienced so many blessings, and found that we learned and grew in positive ways that wouldn't have happened otherwise."

Artists in Safe from the Storm:

Michael Dorsey, Steve Kotrch, Karen Schaaf, Laura Burgess, Janet Dixon, Martha Williams, Andrea Owens, Irina Skalova, Robert Slade, Ann Carpetet, Brenda Gear, Donna Slade, Laura Gammons, Bob Welch, Dara Morgan, Fran Kohlmeier, Ken Laser, Sandy Bruno, Barbara Miller, David Slyck, Scott Sirkin, Diana D'Arco, Marty Pitcairn, Vicki Vitale, Ashley McDaniel, Susan Sirkin, Catherine Thornton, Aidan Restelli, Beth Teresa Gosnell, Edna Stewart, Bonnie Harris, Elizabeth Priddy, Margaret Maple, Rebecca Duncan, Elisa Maple, Sydney Gilgo, Razell Byrne, Donna Hodgins, Karl Koch, Joy Parks Coats, Carol More, Paula Rozov, Neal Stetson, RachelPettigrew, Martha Moore-Meskauskas, Leslie Anthony, Jane Ellen Horner, Michaele Rose Watson, Ann Marie Hodrick, Rebecca Haynes, Margie Smart, Jarmon Fonville and Amalia Tucci.

Live readings, music:

These will begin at 6:30 p.m. and includes

Sam Love, Aniyah Avrawhawm, Gwen McDaniel, Helen B. Barrett and Southern Gentlemans Barbershop.

Literary submissions:

Participants include Sam Barbee, Wendy Osserman, Jackie Phifer, Elaine Berberich, Ronald E. Hignite, Sam Love, Jenny Bates, Marcos Guillen, Jeanne Julian, Catherine Combs, Meg Wethington, Suzannah Cockerille Talton and Martha Pitcairn.

Video:

Presentations by Scott Bizzle and Sam Love.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or 252-259-7585, or [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook at Charlie Hall.

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