I'm writing this on behalf of my mother, Carol Andersen, a painter who has been a part of the Humboldt County arts community for over 40 years. On January 2nd, the devastating fire that destroyed many beloved businesses and people's living spaces in Arcata also destroyed 10th St. Studio where Carol's art studio was located. She lost everything needed to continue her life's work. She had three other incredible studio mates whose work and materials were destroyed as well. It is a devastating loss.
What Was Lost
Carol's studio at 10th Street Studio burned to the ground. Every finished painting, every work in progress, every commission she was working on - gone. Decades of accumulated materials - rare papers, paints, brushes, her entire reference library, work tables, easels - all destroyed. This wasn't just a workspace. It was the physical archive of a lifetime dedicated to art.
The loss is total and uninsured.
Who Carol Is
My mom has been making art in Humboldt County since the 1970s. She earned her MA in Painting from Humboldt State and has spent more than four decades creating work that explores what she calls "the interconnection of all things" - paintings that capture the rhythms and patterns of the coastal landscape, the birds and bones and flowers that make up this place she's loved for so long.
Her work is currently on display at the Morris Graves Museum as part of a show featuring the artists of 10th Street Studio - work that now represents what survives of years of creative practice.
A Series of Losses
Just months before this fire, Carol and her studio mates were displaced when Cal Poly Humboldt purchased the building where they'd worked for 25 years. They found new space together at 10th Street Studio, began rebuilding their community, and were just finding their footing again when the fire took everything.
In addition, about a year ago, my mom was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. It's already affecting her ability to paint as much as she used to. Time matters now in a way it didn't before.
What She Needs
We're asking for funds to help Carol begin again. This money will go toward:
-Replacing essential painting supplies - quality paints, brushes, papers and other mediums
-Rebuilding her reference library and materials
-Securing or creating studio space where she can work
-Replacing work tables and basic studio infrastructure
-Compensating for income lost from destroyed commissions and finished work
My mom is heartbroken and numb right now. She doesn't know where to start. But she's been creating work that matters to this community for decades, and she deserves the chance to keep painting for as long as she's able.
Every contribution helps her take one step closer to working again - to continuing the practice that has defined her life, to adding to the body of work that connects us all to this landscape we share.
Thank you for anything you can give, and for sharing this campaign with others who might be able to help. Our hearts are with everyone who has been affected by this awful fire.