Commission Your Own Echo: Building Our Trail One Masterpiece at a Time
- Feb 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 20
Transform Tragedy Into Legacy
When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, it left behind more than devastation—it left an opportunity to honor what was lost in ways that will endure for generations. At Echoes of the Forest, we believe that out of devastation can come beauty, community, and purpose. We are inviting businesses, organizations, and families to be part of this story.
What Is an Echo Installation?
An Echo is a custom wood masterpiece crafted by our talented roster of local woodworkers and artisans from Hurricane Helene salvaged wood. These installations range from functional art pieces like benches and tables to sculptural works that capture the beauty and strength of Appalachian craftsmanship. Each Echo tells two stories: the history of the tree that once stood, and the legacy of the person, family, or organization that chose to honor it.
Private Commissions: Your Vision, Their Craft
Our woodworkers specialize in creating custom Echo installations for private spaces. Whether you're envisioning a statement piece for your business or a meaningful memorial, our artists work directly with you to design something unique and lasting.
Perfect Spaces for Echo Installations
Corporate & Commercial Spaces:
Hotel lobbies and guest areas
Office building entryways and conference rooms
Restaurant and brewery interiors
Retail spaces and galleries
Medical facilities and healing spaces
Hospitality & Tourism:
Bed and breakfast common areas
Tasting room focal points
Event venue installations
Mountain retreat centerpieces
Public & Community Spaces:
Town halls and municipal buildings
Parks and recreation areas
Libraries and education centers
Community centers and gathering places
The Biltmore Forest Town Hall Commission
One of our proudest private commissions is the Echo installation at Biltmore Forest Town Hall. This piece serves as both functional art and a permanent reminder of the community's resilience after Hurricane Helene. It welcomes residents and visitors alike with a story of strength crafted from storm-salvaged timber, proving that beauty can emerge from tragedy.
Memorial Commissions: Honor a Life, Create a Legacy
Echo installations serve as profound memorials for loved ones and friends. Imagine a beautiful handcrafted bench in a garden where your family gathers, a sculptural piece in a favorite hiking area, or a functional art installation in a community space they cherish. Each memorial Echo can be personalized with engravings, specific wood selections, or design elements that reflect the spirit of the person you're honoring.
These living tributes do more than preserve memory—they support local artists who were impacted by the storm and contribute to the broader mission of environmental education and community healing.
Corporate Partnership: Align Your Brand with a Great Cause
For businesses, commissioning an Echo installation is more than acquiring beautiful art—it's an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to community resilience, environmental stewardship, and local craftsmanship. When your customers, clients, or employees interact with your Echo, they're connecting with a powerful story of transformation.
Business Benefits:
Authentic corporate social responsibility that goes beyond donations
Unique, conversation-starting art that reflects your values
Support for local artists and disaster recovery
Tax-deductible contribution to a 501(c)(3) organization
Meaningful integration of purpose into your physical space
Whether you're a brewery wanting to tell your local story, a hotel creating an unforgettable first impression, or an office building seeking to inspire your team, an Echo installation demonstrates that your business is rooted in this community.
The Artists Behind the Echoes
When you commission an Echo, you're working with some of Western North Carolina's finest craftspeople. Our roster includes master furniture makers like Chester Shuey of Appalachian Joinery, sculptors like Mickey Strivelli, chainsaw carvers like Mike Ayers of Whetstone Woodworks, fine woodworkers like Riley West, and artisans creating everything from handcrafted jewelry to functional art.
Each artist brings their own unique style, expertise, and vision to every commission. During the design process, you'll collaborate directly with the artisan whose work resonates with your vision, ensuring your Echo is truly one-of-a-kind.
How the Commission Process Works
Initial Consultation: Contact us to discuss your vision, space, and goals for the installation
Artist Matching: We connect you with the woodworker whose style and expertise best fit your project
Design Development: Work directly with your artist to refine the concept, select wood, and finalize specifications
Craftsmanship: Watch your Echo come to life through progress updates
Installation: Your completed Echo is professionally installed and ready to inspire
Impact: Your commission supports both the artist and our broader mission of education and community healing
Building the Trail Together
Every Echo commissioned—whether displayed in a hotel lobby, town hall, private garden, or brewery—becomes part of our larger mission. Together, we're creating a trail of installations across Western North Carolina that educates visitors about Hurricane Helene's impact while celebrating the region's artistic heritage and natural beauty.
Your commissioned Echo doesn't stand alone. It joins a growing collection of installations at the North Carolina Arboretum, public parks, community spaces, and private locations throughout the region—each one telling part of the larger story of how we transformed tragedy into art.
Ready to Commission Your Echo?
Whether you're honoring a loved one, elevating your business space, or simply wanting to own a piece of Appalachian craftsmanship with profound meaning, we're here to help you create something extraordinary.
Contact us today to begin the conversation:
Email: info@echoesoftheforest.org
Phone: (828) 273-3096
Let's build this trail together—one masterpiece at a time.
Echoes of the Forest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Commissions may qualify as tax-deductible donations. Contact us for more information about how your Echo installation can support our mission.
