Despite the challenges presented by Helene's devastation, two locals' years-long effort to open an immersive art-focused music venue has come to fruition. Founders and Art Directors Whitney Wolf and Alex Duvall recently opened Third Room in mid-November, a part multimedia art gallery and part music venue at 46 Wall St.

Even as the founders and their team dealt with personal property damages in Helene's aftermath, they were pulling 22-hour days in the week leading up to the opening to fulfill their vision of creating a unique space for people to express themselves.

Inside the space

The art gallery space features a mix of cycling digital art displayed on 65-in screens as well as traditional mediums. Currently on view is the "un/natural worlds" exhibit, including paintings from Asheville artist Ryan O'Sullivan and Art Garden studio artists Annie Kyla Bennett and Jack Henry.

But the artistry isn't confined to the gallery — the main event space is an immersive installation in itself. More than 15 projectors hang from the ceiling, displaying projection mapped art onto the walls. As an artist plays on stage, Duvall is behind a bay of high-tech equipment, curating the visuals to match the sounds. The projection mapping also works to display imagery onto the centerpiece of the space, a massive sculpture of a face created by Wolf.

Currently, the venue has several local artists performing residencies, plus some big names in the electronic music world on the calendar, like a three-night run with Papadosio. Last Thursday, we saw local band NOLZ play its weekly show "Translating," where the group plays captivating jazz renditions of popular dance music.

Stop by for gallery hours (Friday-Sunday, 12-4 p.m.) or check out the upcoming shows to see the space in action. Right now, Third Room is donating a portion of ticket proceeds to Helene relief efforts.