Commission Your Own Echo

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 timber. 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 and public 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 — a hand-carved black walnut mantel that now anchors the building's central hearth. The 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 Greater 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

1. Initial ConsultationWe discuss your vision, space, and goals for the installation.
2. Artist MatchingWe connect you with the woodworker whose style and expertise best fit your project.
3. Design DevelopmentYou work directly with your artist to refine the concept, select wood, and finalize specifications.
4. CraftsmanshipYou watch your Echo come to life through progress updates from the studio.
5. InstallationYour completed Echo is professionally installed and ready to inspire.
6. ImpactYour 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.

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.