The art of recovery

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

Ashley Andersen is having trouble sleeping. It’s not just because she worries about where she and her boyfriend, Jason Taylor, will end up next. It’s not just because she can’t help but recount all they lost in the Echo Mountain fire, a list that can be easily summed up as “pretty much everything.”

Mostly, it’s because of the barking.

“So many fire victims like us have ended up staying in hotels as our only option,” she said. “And lots of people have dogs, so yeah, there’s a lot of barking, pretty much all night long.” 

Ashley and Jason are also victims of particularly bad timing; they were in the process of buying the property that they now own but had been renting when the fires happened. Because the sale was pending, the owner let the insurance lapse. Because Ashley and Jason weren’t yet the owners, they hadn’t started a policy yet.

“We don’t live beyond our means but we didn’t have much saved beyond what we had for the down payment on the property,” Ashley said. “We have no idea how we’ll be able to build on the property now that the house is gone and it was burned so badly that even the septic system needs to be rebuilt.”

The couple has worked to clear the land, hoping to live simply on the property while they do the slow work of building a permanent structure.

“We had a fifth-wheel, but the roof collapsed,” Ashley said. “We are so appreciative of all the things that people have donated to help fire victims, but we went through three donated tents before we gave up; they all either collapsed or fell apart.”

Ashley’s parents let the couple stay with them, but it was a temporary solution.

“My folks’ house is crowded, so we ended up in this hotel, which hopefully we can continue to afford, but we have no clue what’s next.”

To deal with the stress of their present situation while raising needed funds, Ashley turned to one thing she didn’t lose — her artistic ability.

“Art is something I’ve always done,” she said. “You get into that flow state and you don’t think of anything else.”

Ashley had just finished the process of getting her entire portfolio photographed and ready in order to promote her existing work when the fire took that too. So, she’s starting with fresh work, some inspired by the fires, some by requests from friends and new fans.

“I’ve been doing a lot of commissions,” she said. “You have no idea how appreciated it is by artists when you share something they have created.”

One request opened a new avenue for Ashley that has turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

“A friend asked me to do a pet portrait and it went well. So, I posted it on social media and said ‘this is something I can do,’” she said. “I love animals, but it’s not necessarily my favorite. I could draw trees forever, but how can you say no to a cute fuzzy face? Pets are so happy in all their photos, and right now especially it’s nice to be able to paint something that’s happy."

Requests for pet portraits kept Ashley busy through the holidays.

“People told me they were so happy to get ones of their own pets, so they gave them as gifts,” she said. “It was definitely nice to have that as a source of income.”

When not working on commissions, Ashley continues to create art as therapy.

“I have a few pieces I made trying to get the feels out,” she said. “One, for example, is of a burning woman sitting in water, steaming.”

Ashley and Jason are hoping to get one of the grants for rebuilding, and are availing themselves of all the donations and help that the community has been providing.

“There are a lot of other people in our situation but they’re shy about being in such a bad position,” she said. “It hurts their ability to get the help they need and that so many people are willing to provide.”

Some of the help Ashley and Jason have received they’ve had to decline, as hotel living provides lots of sounds, but not much storage.

“We love you for it,” she said. “But where are we going to put it?”

“From the Ashes,” a show featuring pieces salvaged from and inspired by the Echo Mountain fire, will open on April 9 at Lincoln City’s Chessman gallery, For details, contact Gallery Director Krista Eddy at 541-992-4292.

For details on Andersen’s work, go to facebook.com/andersenartistry.