ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Echoes of the Forest has been working to transform fallen trees into reflective public artwork after the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. This Valentine’s Day, the project will unveil their latest wooden masterpiece at the North Carolina Arboretum, while other works are soon to follow.
“Tea for Two,” the first Echoes of the Forest project of 2026, will be revealed with an event from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14 in the “Plants of Promise Garden” at the Arboretum.
The wooden bench, crafted by Mark Oliver of Foundation Woodworks, is constructed from a fallen white oak tree and bookended by two boulders, forming a romantic sitting setting for Arboretum visitors.
The lumber was salvaged from the Arboretum through the Community Lumber Project, a lumber reuse initiative founded by the University of North Carolina Asheville STEAM Studio after Helene.
Ceremony attendees will also receive a small Valentine’s Day treat from Echoes of the Forest woodworker Mickey Strivelli.
“One of the woodworkers is going to be handing out little hearts, since it’s Valentine’s Day, made from salvaged wood, and they’ll have the Echoes of the Forest logo branded on it,” said Echoes of the Forest founder Liisa Andreassen. “Anybody who comes to the unveiling will get a little heart.”
The next “echo” will be revealed on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Biltmore Forest Town Hall.
Kwadwo Som-Pimpong, a woodworker from Crafted Glory, was commissioned by the Friends of Biltmore Forest to craft a new mantle for the town hall fireplace out of salvaged black walnut wood. The mantle will be revealed at 7 p.m., preceded by a presentation on “The Importance of Reforestation” from Warren Wilson College professor Dr. Dave Ellum at 5:30 p.m.
There are other pieces in the pipeline, too.
“We have a couple of projects that are in process right now with the county and the city,” Andreassen said. “One is going to be at a park and another one’s going to be in an area downtown that I can’t yet disclose.”
Meanwhile, Echoes of the Forest has embarked on a different kind of project altogether with Burial Beer Co.
After a Marion cooperage constructed seven wooden barrels from three fallen oaks, Echoes of the Forest and Burial have collaborated to brew an Echoes of the Forest-themed beer inside of the salvaged barrels. The brew will be released sometime in late spring or early summer.
The increase of “echoes” around Western North Carolina has become a big source of joy for Andreassen.
“It just makes my heart happy. It really does,” Andreassen said. “You kind of get a personal attachment to them. I check on them from time to time, and, like, I didn’t mention a giant turtle. There is a giant turtle, also with the Arboretum. Her name is Shelly. But I just went to check on Shelly the other day and she’s doing well.”
Andreassen’s passion for the public artwork is echoed by her fellow Echoes of the Forest team members.
“Everybody that I’ve talked to about it has just been so positive about it. I really haven’t had any negative feedback and it’s just kind of fallen into place,” Andreassen said. ”It’s been a lot of work, but it hasn’t been, I have to say, it hasn’t been that difficult. People are like, ‘what can we do? How can we make this happen?’ So, I have a really good team of people working that I’m working with, and it seems like it’s paid off.”
True to the mission of the nonprofit, Echoes of the Forest seems to have paid off most among the community the pieces were designed for.
“I’ve just talked to people randomly, and I’m like, ‘oh, have you been to the Arboretum?'” Andreassen said. “They’re like, ‘oh yeah, we saw this really cool turtle.'”
For more information about Echoes of the Forest, visit www.echoesoftheforest.org.