On July 7th, the Eno Arts Mill in my hometown of Hillsborough, NC flooded badly and is now closed until a full renovation can be completed. Since 2021, the Mill has provided affordable studio space to many local artists. Some of them lost decades of work, along with their tools, supplies, and furniture. The Mill has also been a gathering place for creatives, hosting classes, camps, and hundreds of artists in their galleries, myself included.

The director of the Mill, Katie Murray, has been really encouraging and kind to me personally and to so many of us. Sometimes I run into her and she’s wearing one of my painted necklaces from years ago! My heart breaks for Katie, who has poured her soul into this space and Hillsborough’s arts scene.