RiverLink hosts Wilma Dykeman Birthday celebration on May 20

Wilma Dykeman sitting on the Clifton Heights balcony, early 1960s.

PRESS RELEASE FROM RIVERLINK:

Join RiverLink, The Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the City of Asheville as they celebrate Wilma Dykeman’s birthday on Friday, May 20, from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Jean Webb Park in the River Arts District. There will be performances and speeches by DeWayne Barton, Lauren Fortuna, and The Faerie Kin. See the official party invitation here.

Wilma Dykeman warned us all of pollution in the French Broad River in her 1955 book “The French Broad.” It was a clarion call to respect our natural world, and the first case ever made that clean water is good for the economy. Dykeman also pioneered in the areas of civil rights, women’s rights (including birth control), Appalachian Studies, and GMO’s.

She was born on May 20, 1920 just north of Asheville at the head of Beaverdam valley. She died in 2006 at the Keever Solace Center off Sweeten Creek Road. Between these Buncombe County bookends, she lived an extraordinary life filled with books and writing, learning and laughter, social debate and family nurture.

Hendersonville’s Verve magazine was onto something when they listed Wilma Dykeman first among the “10 Most Fascinating Women in WNC History.”

The participants will be serving cake and refreshments and offering a final report on RADTIP Public Art, implementation of The Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan, and River Trivia.

SHARE
About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.