Art with Heart: Open Hearts Artists Install Collaborative Work at Dogwood Health Trust

In spring 2025, a group of about 20 artists from Asheville nonprofit Open Hearts Art Center gathered at Dogwood Health Trust’s headquarters to commemorate the installation of their 12-foot by 20-foot collaborative mixed media piece. Commissioned by Dogwood, their work of art celebrates the diversity and resilience of the region while expressing Dogwood’s purpose in real time: to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all — no exceptions. 

“Creating art is so important to being part of a community,” explains Open Hearts Co-Founder Debbie Harris. “This amazing collaboration hits on Dogwood’s mission and Open Hearts’ mission too.” 

The untitled piece by the Open Hearts artists is part of a larger art project that Dogwood started in 2023. Board and staff members wanted to leverage Dogwood’s office space in Asheville as a place to showcase local art from WNC’s Qualla Boundary and 18-county region across a wide spectrum of community demographics and media. The project invested and commissioned art and photography from local artists and galleries. And, in the case of Open Hearts, the project pursued a collaboration with a local arts nonprofit. Dogwood is now investing in art connected to the region’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. 

“Dogwood came to us because they had a drive to work with a local nonprofit that was really supportive of a marginalized section of our community. They didn’t want to leave anyone out, and I was very impressed by that,” added Harris, who helped to launch the Open Hearts organization 20 years ago. 

A supportive studio and gallery, Open Hearts empowers adults with varied abilities through the arts. Open Hearts shows and sells pieces throughout the year at various exhibits and venues. Art sales are split 50/50 between the artists and the center to help cover the center’s operational costs. Harris explained, “As our artists create, they are also getting something in return. It’s the best part of my job, hearing them say, ‘I’m ready for my paycheck.’”

Open Hearts also hires professional artists to help guide its programs. Local artist, curator and Open Hearts teacher Cayla Ritchy led this project when she was a student at UNC Asheville, assisting with the original concept and guiding artists through the rigorous creative process. 

“It took most of last summer to finish, and everybody had a hand creating the designs, prepping the canvases and even making paper,” Ritchy remarked, adding that each artist was encouraged to personally reflect on Dogwood’s mission as inspiration for their part in the work. 

Photo credit: Dogwood Health Trust

The piece consists of four canvases that connect with Dogwood’s strategic priorities of housing, education, economic opportunity and health and wellness. To create each 3-foot by 5-foot panel, Ritchy prompted the artists with questions like, “When you think of housing, what comes to mind?” Through these prompts, artists created smaller works on paper that were then “scaled up” using scans and Photoshop and brought to life as a collage on each larger canvas. The finishing touch was stitching dozens of handmade paper Dogwood blossoms into the borders of each panel.

“Open Hearts is known for its paper flower bouquets, so we wanted to include them,” Ritchy reflected. “We created the die-cut Dogwood blooms in-house. The artists even made the paper for the flowers themselves using watercolor paint and adding texture with salt and ink. It was beautiful having so many artists make a giant collaborative piece like this, all working as a group to create something together,” she said. 

Brent Skidmore, UNC Asheville Public Arts & Humanities Chair, Professor of Art & Art History Collaborative and Co-founder of STEAM Studio, worked with Michael Manes, Owner of Blue Spiral 1 Art Gallery, and Dogwood’s internal staff and board committee since 2023 to curate the growing collection and art project at Dogwood. He calls this particular work of art a “dream inclusion.”

“It’s becoming pretty clear how art defines our region,” Skidmore said. “It’s an important part of our economy, artists are great leaders and community builders, and when you look at the resilience of our community, art is often at the center. We’re so pleased that Dogwood has committed to bringing this creative energy into its building. It is extremely thoughtful.”