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Maui wildfires destroyed an art-rich community, but surviving pieces made it to Greensboro

In August 2023, a wildfire devastated the art-rich Lahaina. Now, a few surviving pieces are here, along with Maui transplants, Steve and Angela Sallerson.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Let me paint you a picture. For the past 20 years, Steve Sallerson has put his passion into curating art. Yet in a single moment, those 20 years of passion nearly went up in smoke.

The wildfires that devastated the Island of Maui, left no one untouched, including Sallerson.

“That’s Lahaina Harbor; that’s right where I was. It’s gone. It’s gone," lamented Sallerson as he pointed to a picture of a vibrant painting on the gallery wall.

Steve and his wife Angela had lived in Maui for 20 years curating artwork for the community in their gallery known formally as the Wertheim Contemporary Gallery.

“In Lahaina alone, there were 34 galleries. The art market there was the third-largest in the world," stated Sallerson.

Only a few pieces remained as the wildfire burned through the town. 

“Smoke from the fire, it was like a black oily smoke. It coated everything. The Environmental Protection Agency came in and declared everything toxic waste because of benzene, which comes out of, I guess, insulation and wiring and everything when it burns, and it's extremely toxic," Sallerson recalled.

Steve was only able to save a handful of untouched pieces. Others were not so lucky.

“I just talked to an elder. He's been a gallery owner there for 45 years. He lost everything. His gallery burned to the ground. The warehouse full of art burned to the ground. His home burned to the ground," recounted Sallerson.

After the wildfires, the Sallersons knew it was time for a change. It was time to move.

“You have certain criteria. You know, for us, it was weather, politics, the community in general, safety, you know, we didn't want all the big city problems. You don't get that here. You know, this is a very intelligent community. The weather is fantastic because we can get the change of seasons again. Didn't get it in Maui. Every day, gorgeous, you know?" Sallerson laughed.

So, they brought themselves and their art to Downtown Greensboro.

“People are enjoying the art; that's what I want. So, I want them to experience it. I want them to be exposed to it and acquire it, of course. But, you know, it's just such a positive thing," Sallerson said.

A blank canvas where they could start again.

Their art gallery, A'eo Fine Art is now open to the public. It's located right across from the International Civil Rights Center.

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