Oral histories]]> Julie Bell, artist and co-owner of Trackside Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District, was interviewed by Buncombe County Special Collections Librarian Carissa Pfeiffer on December 15, 2025. This interview took place at Blue Ridge Public Radio and was conducted as part of the Come Hell or High Water Oral History Project for Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library.

Bell describes how she initially underestimated the storm, based on past experiences with hurricanes [00:05:00]. She was in Texas when Helene hit Asheville, and coordinated aid remotely while serving as River Arts District Association Foundation president [00:10:47] before returning and working together with fellow artists to support one another [00:16:27] and participating in cleaning and rebuilding Trackside Studios [00:27:14] in preparation for a successful reopening in early December which generated overwhelming community support and sales to sustain the business [00:31:52]. Bell concludes by reflecting on her hopes for the future of the RAD [00:42:02], lessons learned from the flood [00:44:48], and the importance of community connections to build collective resilience [00:52:19].

Narrator portraits depict Julie in her art studio in the River Arts District, January 5, 2026. ]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> December 15, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]>