Who is Dealie?
Dealie is a multimedia artists who lives in Fletcher with her dog, Bato, and husband, Tory.
Dealie is a sensitive soul who cares deeply for the earth and its people. She needed longer than most to find her footing in life, growing up with chronic pain and in a misaligned environment. The constant inspirations in her life have been soil and art.
Dealie’s grandmother, JuJu, became an artist at 65 years old and shared her love for creativity with her grandchildren. Dealie’s days spent painting in the basement with her cousins and sister translated to a comforting coaching style she expressed through babysitting, heading canoeing at summer camp, tutoring in writing centers, and teaching.
In 2015, Dealie became a raft guide on the Nantahala River, where she fell in love with North Carolina’s people, food, moss, lichen, and magic water. She had found her home.
Like many people in 2020, Dealie began to face the truths hidden by overworking, studying, and partying. She went to therapy for her PTSD diagnosis, gave up alcohol, and fell in love. JuJu’s health declined from ovarian cancer, leading to her death in 2021. JuJu loved Dealie’s passion for art and left her enough art supplies to last for years, which helped Dealie survive heavy grief. (The art presented on this site was created with those materials)
In 2023, Dealie was diagnosed with hypermobile spectrum disorder. In pain since childhood, she had always felt dis-located, and is grateful she now has methods to bring herself back into place.
While working through her own issues, Dealie found strength through supporting others. She first worked at a women’s rehabilitation center before moving to a Medicaid-funded Community Support Team.
When Hurricane Helene hit, Dealie responded in the field, supporting client’s mental health in addition to basic needs. She raised funds through social media posts and turned that money into carloads of life-sustaining supplies for coworkers, clients, and farmers.
She also connected with her husband's work, Claywood, to run a free craft time for children with wifi and coffee available for adults. 
During that time, Dealie connected with local food services: Bounty and Soul, Manna, 12 Baskets, and ABCCM. Inspired by their constant dedication to serving their community—not just in times of disaster—Dealie quit her job and started work as a farm hand, supporting farmers who provide for the local food banks.
Working for farmers with integrity taught Dealie the power of working for herself and selling things she feels good about to community members. She learned that what seems impossible can happen when nature is honored and people gather together to make something better.
Dealie hopes her art encourages people to slow down in nature, to consider where their food comes from, and to make their own art. She plans to host community art events and continue to share the healing she has experienced with other people who are in pain.
