This poem is a student submission by Aspen Hickman

For many young artists, the prospect of turning their creativity into a career can be daunting. Often, when students voice aspirations to become a potter, painter, photographer, or everything in between, their hopes are vehemently discouraged by those skeptical of an artist's ability to succeed and support themselves. Holly Carrico is one of the many local artists who has overcome these doubts and found a way to bring creative spark to her work through starting a handmade jew

This photo essay highlights a local painter in Boone, Chandler Thornton, and what her art means to her. It can be accessed here:

This photo essay highlights the ghost town of Thurmond, West Virginia and it's history as a town. It can be accessed through the following link:

Photo credit: Mitch Jasper Energy cannot be created nor destroyed,only transformed from one form to the other.  I like to think that applies to us,  That when all of our leaves fall Our branches turn from green to white And finally  When our trunk gets shoveled up That we don’t end there And that maybe  Maybe We can flourish once again But even if we can’t  Even if our energy truly is destroyed, The animals will remember us  As the great oak who sheltered them from harm The c

This bandana was created by Katherine Hemrick with the dye from dried flower petals. She steamed a cloth with the dried petals to allow the dye to soak in.

Photo credit: Selah Greer Beneath this soil, there is music. The beat cradled in the bosom of ashen mountains, Pounded out by tireless paths, By the Cherokee stallion and the wagon train. The soil’s stain passed down to my skin,  the spirit of the untamed Indian burning beneath my eyes   Beating out her path, bareback, against the march of progress. But the wheels still come, carve ruts into the hills, The white man folds his stained soul into the waiting mountain- An outlaw,

Students at The Spark’s poetry night brainstormed themes and messages on flashcards that they wanted to communicate through their poetry during the poetry workshop. Below is a poem written by a student during the workshop.

Selah Greer, Editor-in-Chief of The Spark This photo essay highlights the Watauga County Heritage Quilt and student submitted poetry on the topic of heritage. It can be accessed through the following link: https://sites.google.com/wataugaschools.org/heritagepoetry?usp=sharing

This photo essay by The Spark highlights Floyd Larry, an indie-rock musician. It can be accessed through this link .

This google site from The Spark showcases student submissions for a scary story contest centering around this image of an abandoned house. It can be accessed with the following link: The Haunted House

This photo essay from The Spark highlights poetry from their October Poetry Night at Blue Deer on King. It can be accessed through this link .

Write a story (long, short, 15 words), a poem, flash fiction, or even a song telling the tragic and eerie story of this seemingly abandoned home. If you send us a story, you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Hatchet gift card!

Selah Greer, Editor-in-Chief of The Spark This photo essay highlights a community-made quilt created in remembrance of Hurricane Helene. It can be accessed here .

Caleb Strickland From betwixt these harrowing waves I swim, as the daylight shaves Forever betrothed, to restless hearts Parts at last,...

Chloe Greer I lay in bed, It’s late i think. The thunder roars, The lightning blinks.  I hear the creek. It runs as the crickets peep And...

Katherine Hemerick and Mitch Jasper, The Spark This short video follows Katherine and Mitch as they go around Watauga High School and do fit checks with some sharply dressed students. It can be accessed with this link: https://share.icloud.com/photos/03e8UNI-6gIBEROSDJdD_B6GA

During the Spark's poetry night, students gathered at the school library and participated in a poetry workshop.

This photo essay can be accessed by clicking on this link.

This is a longform video interview featuring Jasper and Brown molding pots that can be accessed through the following link