"A Tale of Two Cities" On View
The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts (NOAFA), in partnership with Asheville-based ArtsvilleUSA, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA), and River Arts District Artists (RADA), announces A Tale of Two Cities (ATOTC), an exhibition featuring arts and crafts from New Orleans and Asheville artists produced in response to the destructive hurricanes that have shaped the two cities’ stories.
Opening on September 13, 2025—a date strategically situated between the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene—A Tale of Two Cities commemorates the shared experiences and lessons of New Orleans and Asheville as they navigate the aftermath of climate-related disaster. Through this exhibition, artists will create a dialogue between the two cities, exploring themes of rebirth and the power of art to foster hope and recovery.
The exhibition opening will softly launch with a Speaker Series beginning at 4:00 PM on Friday, September 12, inviting interested art enthusiasts to hear from ATOTC artists, curators, and supporters regarding insight and personal perspective on displayed work and the impact of A Tale of Two Cities as a collective body of art. The Speaker Series will continue the evening of Saturday, September 13, coinciding with the official public opening of the show.
Speaker Series participants include ATOTC artists Phil Sandusky, Tina Freeman, and Rontherin Ratliff, show curator Kenn Kotara, River Arts District Artists Association President Jeffrey Burroughs, and New Orleans community leader Steven Bingler.
The Saturday night opening will feature live performances from Ashville and New Orleans musicians and food from local vendors and kitchens. The event will be free and open to the public from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
A Tale of Two Cities will be on display at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts (5256 Magazine Street) through November 8, 2025, providing a space for artists to reflect on their unique responses to similar challenges and inviting viewers on the first step of a journey to consider how shared experiences can lead to collective healing. Participating Asheville-based artists will receive 100% of the proceeds from their sold work.
“We hope to inspire and forge relationships across the board through art and culture that will endure and aid these two cities and other future communities in need,” said exhibition curator and New Orleans artist, Jan Gilbert.
A Tale of Two Cities is curated by Jan Gilbert, Andrew J. Rodgers, Asheville-based artist Kenn Kotara, and Executive Director of The RADA Foundation, Kim Self Hundertmark. It is presented with support from Asheville’s River Arts District Artists Assocation (RADA) President Jeffrey Burroughs and the RADA Foundation.
Exhibiting artists from New Orleans include Babette Beaullieu, Chandra McCormick, Frank Relle, Jan Gilbert, Jana Napoli, Jeremy Jernegan, Keith Calhoun, Luis Cruz Azaceta, Phil Sandusky, Rontherin Ratliff, Sibylle Peretti, and Tina Freeman.
Exhibiting artists from Asheville include Alison Chism, Amy Putansu, Ashely Graber, Cassie Butcher, Chris Jehly, Danielle Hughes, Elizabeth Carrington, Galen Frost Bernard, Hayden Wilson, Jeffrey Burroughs, Jesse Jason, Jim McDowell, Joseph Pearson, Julie Slattery, Kenn Kotara, Laura Woods, Melanie Maranda, Nava Lubelski, Peter Roux, Rob Amberg, and Tami Beldue.
Crafts from Asheville’s BRNHA artists Mary Thompson, William Rogers, Rachel David, Rodney Leftwich, John Geci, Pam Brewer, Naomi Dalglish, Michael Hunt, Bob Kogut, Desmond Suarez, Mike McKinney, and the Crossnore Weavers will also be featured in the show.
The virtual showcase of A Tale of Two Cities will be available on ArtsvilleUSA.com starting September 1, 2025, and can be viewed through the end of the calendar year.