Fia Bench Rises from the Storm
A fallen tree becomes a place to rest, remember, and gather.
Two years ago, Hurricane Helene tore a white oak out of the ground.
The storm left behind damage, uncertainty, and a city learning once again how to rebuild. Today, that same tree stands renewed in front of the YMI Cultural Center, the oldest active Black cultural institution in the country, transformed into a handmade bench that now welcomes anyone who needs a moment of rest.
The bench was partially sponsored by Echoes of the Forest, a partnership that works with Appalachian artisans to repurpose fallen timber into handcrafted art and public installations. Each piece, called an Echo, carries two stories at once: the life of the tree that once stood tall, and the legacy of the community that chooses to honor it.
For this Echo, woodworker Kwadwo SomPimpong drew inspiration from the ancient chief stool tradition of Ghana, a heritage he carries with him. In Ghana, a chief’s stool is more than an object; it holds the essence of the leader and the people he serves. Kwadwo carved three stools rising from one connected piece of wood because that felt true to how communities survive—distinct lives, shared strength, one story.
Over more than one hundred hours, working entirely by hand, he shaped the fallen oak into what is now called the Fia bench. Fia means royalty in Ewe, his wife’s language. The name honors the cultural lineage of stools in Ghana, where a chief or king’s stool symbolizes the soul of the people. By weaving three stools into a single bench, he created a place where anyone can sit and feel held by that lineage of resilience.
The bench was unveiled on Juneteenth 2026 in front of the YMI. Crowds gathered on The Block to witness the transformation of a stormfallen tree into a sculptural installation. The piece was commissioned through the Boosting the Block Initiative, a collaboration between Echoes of the Forest, the City of Asheville, and the YMI Cultural Center, all working to revitalize a neighborhood that carries generations of Black history.
What began as an uprooted oak is now a reminder of what Asheville has endured and what it continues to build. Kwadwo’s hope is simple: that people will sit here, rest here, and remember that even after the storm, community finds a way to rise.
The YMI is located at 39 S. Market St. in Asheville. Learn more about Echoes of the Forest by visiting echoesoftheforest.org.
Kwadwo Som-Pimpong is the founder and creative director of Crafted Glory where he transforms American hardwoods into sculptural furniture. With degrees in mechanical and environmental engineering from Carnegie Mellon, Kwadwo brings structural precision and material consciousness to every design.
His studio, bordered by mountain streams and horse pastures, is a deliberate sanctuary where engineering rigor meets artistic vision. To learn more, please visit www.craftedglory.com. Follow Crafted Glory on Instagram at www.instagram.com/craftedglory.
