About
The Ties That Bind Asheville was a participatory public-art project developed and facilitated by artist and researcher Emily Clanton.
Over 163 days (May 29 – November 7, 2025), the work invited people to tie strips of repurposed fabric onto a fence in Asheville’s River Arts District—as well as onto modular forms and temporary off-site activations—creating a collective installation filled with the wishes, worries, and reflections of participants.
Origins & Setting
The project first took shape during a community gathering held in May 2025 in an area still recovering from Tropical Storm Helene.
The event, organized by a local grief and renewal practitioner, created space for reflection and reconnection through symbolic, creative acts. Guided activities drew on nature, movement, and collective making to support shared healing.
Within this setting, Clanton was selected to design and lead a participatory activity in which attendees tied repurposed fabric strips onto a riverside fence—creating a collective visual record of care and connection.
After the event, she returned to the site on May 29 (Day 11) to continue the work independently. This visit marked the beginning of a long-term installation rooted in civic care, inviting anyone to engage through process, ritual, aesthetics, or simple curiosity.
Development & Process
From its riverside beginnings, The Ties That Bind Asheville evolved into a modular, city-wide practice that expanded access to creative participation in public space.
Fabric strips gathered from related activations — including activations at Local Cloth, Warren Wilson College’s Environmental Summit, and Allon Health & Wellness — were later returned to the primary fence site. This circular process maintained both visual and symbolic unity across all locations, connecting diverse environments and communities through a shared field of intention.
Through these iterative gestures, the project fostered dialogue about healing, labor, and connection in civic space. Each action, from tending the materials to documenting the work, became part of a living practice of community care.
Purpose
At its heart, The Ties That Bind Asheville invited people to slow down, reflect, and take part in a collective act of presence. Each tied strip represented an offering — a wish, a memory, or a moment of gratitude. Together, these contributions formed a record of participation that changed with time and touch.
The project was grounded in the belief that small, accessible creative gestures can strengthen social fabric and emotional resilience.
By meeting participants where they were — in public spaces, lecture halls, or wellness settings — Clanton ensured the work remained inclusive and within reach of diverse communities.
Acknowledgments & Documentation
The Ties That Bind Asheville was made possible through the generosity and engagement of community members and partnering organizations who contributed materials, stories, and care.
Special thanks to Local Cloth, Warren Wilson College’s Environmental Summit, Allon Health & Wellness, and the many individual participants who helped sustain the installation throughout its 163-day duration.
The public installation concluded on November 7, 2025 (Day 163).
Over that time, visitors at the site and related activations contributed to the collective work, transforming an ordinary fence into a living civic monument to connection and care.
Following its completion, The Ties That Bind Asheville concluded as an artist-led project, with the physical installation remaining at the riverside site under community stewardship. A community-facing sign now marks its completion and ongoing care.
Documentation Note
This account draws on project records, public event listings, and field documentation gathered between May and November 2025.
No formal event summary was issued for the May 18 community gathering; this website serves as the public record of The Ties That Bind Asheville.
All text and images are presented for clarity, accessibility, and long-term reference.