When Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on North Carolina last year, Asheville resident Matthew Decker ’12, Illustration, lost countless unique illustrations and thousands of dollars of equipment when his studio was submerged in nearly 25 feet of floodwater. Decker immediately went to work helping his community.
Decker, who has created art for Asheville-area businesses as well international music artists like Wilco and Widespread Panic, spent the days and weeks after the storm clearing roads and helping fellow artists salvage what they could from ruined studios. He even sold hats to raise money for a local wildlife conservation.
This August, Decker was recognized for his efforts with a $10,000 recovery grant from Asheville’s Wicked Weed Brewing. The award represented the culmination of the brewery’s inaugural “You Deserve an Upgrade” campaign “to recognize and reward individuals who go above and beyond for others.” He received 12 nominations from members of the community and was selected from more than 200 nominees from 18 states.
Decker, who recently purchased a property just west of Asheville’s River Arts District with his partner, plans to use the money to buy equipment and supplies to build a new studio.
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