Penland LineCT
Community News
GALLERY
STAFF CHANGES
The Penland Gallery is having a fine, busy summer, welcoming Lisa Grindstaff moved across the hall this winter to take up
thousands of visitors, answering questions, and presenting the her new role as registrar. Jim Hardin is on night-time security.
Nils Winkler just couldn’t stay away
from Penland any longer, so he’s
joined the grounds ^crew. Melissa
Deen is assistant services coordina
tor, Hugh Patrick is steward, and
Shannon Hilemon is working in
housekeeping.
Micah Pulleyn is helping out in
the gallery, and Susie Ganch is work
ing in the coffee house. Leigh
Holden is our summer coordinator for the printmaking, and
book and paper studios; C.J. Julien is coordinator for photog
raphy and drawing. Incoming Core stu
dents are Lauren Dyer, Susan Feagin, John
Hagy, Kara Ikenberry, Liz Sparks, and
Andi Steele.
Chris Winterstein, who was our head
chef, has left the kitchen for a job at the
National Ornamental Metals Museum,
where he will pursue his other passion—
iron. He has been replaced by Allison
Barrows, who has cooked in the Arctic
and the Antarctic. Former Core student
Goeff Calabrese has joined Allison’s staff.
work of Penland artists. Five special exhibi-
tions were planned for 1998; three of them
are still to come.
The first show of the year featured work
by Penland Residents. The second show,
which has just come down, was timed to
coincide with the Asheville conference of the
Artist Blacksmiths of North America. The
focus was blacksmith’s tools, both made and
I, 1 1 1 1. . Plumb bobs in ihe iron tools show at the aallery.
collected by Penland iron artists. ^
We have three shows scheduled for the rest of the year.
July 21—September 13 Furniture for Uncommon Rooms
Work by fifteen craftspeople in wood and metal.
September 22—October 25 Eating Well
Work in all media related to food.
November 3—December 6 Three Artists
Junichiro Baba, Paige Davis, Tom Spleth
We had originally scheduled an exhibition of work by for
mer Core students, but this show has been postponed until
next year so we can continue locating our alumni.
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to
Noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm; Sunday hours are 12:00—4:30
PM. For information call 828-763-6211.
Chris Winterstein in the Jorge.
Remembering Phillip Pike
In August, 1990, instructor Phillip Fike was interviewed by photographer Ann Hawthorne. He had first visited Penland in 1971,
had taught a session in 1980, and was back again in 1990. “I’ve made a pact with myself,” he told Ann, “that I am going to come
back here, if I am able, in the year 2000 and spend the whole summer.” But it was not to be; this extraordinary Renaissance man
passed away in December. Phil was a Professor of Art at Wayne State University in Detroit, an active exhibiting metalsmith for over
fifty years, and a Fellow of the American Craft Council. Among his many accomplishments, he made a lifelong study of the fibula
(safety pin) form beginning with the ancient Etruscan inverted coil spring, and incorporated it into his work.
When Ann asked him about his identity as an artist, Phil commented that he was not known as a painter, draftsman, or print-
maker, although he did all of those things. He was not known as a glassblower, although it was glassblowing that gave him the great
est joy. He was also a maestro of the jaw harp, a professional folksinger, and for several years he was the president of the Michigan
Classical Guitar Society. Despite all these talents, Phil concluded that his identity was as an ornament maker.
His admiration for Penland was summed up in his assertion that “everyone who is an American craftsman simply has to come
here.” He backed that up by encouraging generations of students to attend a Penland session and with a generous bequest in his
will. We will miss having Phil with us during the summer of 2000. —Donna Jean Dreyer
Remembering Betty Morgan
We were saddened to learn that Betty Morgan, a native of the Penland community and a former Penland instructor, died on
Saturday, May 3, 1998. Betty was born November 7, 1920 and grew up in a home near the Toe River, not far from Penland School.
She went to grade school, with her sister, Jessie McKinney, at the Appalachian School. Her older sister,
Georgia, was Miss Lucy Morgan’s first assistant in 1924. Betty began working for the school in 1936, mak-
ing plates and bowls of copper and pewter. They were formed in molds with a leather-covered wooden
hammer and had designs cut into them with acid.
She quickly became a consummate craftsperson, making copper candle sconces, pewter spoons, and
plates and bowls of etched copper and pewter. Her work was sold in the early years through the Penland
Weavers and Potters, and later through the Penland School gift shop. She was also a member of the
Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild.
Betty taught enameling and metalcrafts at Penland and she worked in the metals studio, assisting
instructors and students for forty-four years. She won a purchcise award from the Mint Museum for one of her pewter bowls. She
also won an award from the United States government for running a lookout station for enemy planes. She did this at Morgan Hall
during World War 11.
In 1980, Betty retired and lived in her home near the school. Throughout her life, Betty was known for her love of gardening,
flowers, and animals, which inspired the vivid enamels and etchings she created throughout her life. She will be greatly missed by
her family, neighbors, and friends. —Bill Ford
MORE STAFF CHANGES
Sarah McKinney, our ace administrative assistant, has left
Penland to spend more time with family and pursue a home
business. Careful readers may have noticed that this publica
tion doesn’t include Eileen Wallace in the credits. In addition
to her duties as studio coordinator, Eileen has been integral to
our publications since 1993. She’s not sure about her next
move, but her array of skills will surely attract interesting
opportunities. Her sharp eye and good nature will be missed.
RESIDENTS
Good wishes go to three artists who have finished their resi
dencies. Meg Peterson and John Snyder are living in nearby
Bandana; Meg continues as outreach educator. Terry Gess is
spending the summer in Michigan, but plans to return to the
Dana Moore area this fall.
The Barns welcomes ceramic artists
Michael Kline and Louise Radochonski.
Michael comes from Worthington, MA
where he worked with Mark Shapiro
and Sam Taylor. He will continue to
produce functional work and hopes to
explore other media while he is at
Penland. Louise recently retired as stu
dio coordinator and will use the resi
dency to focus on sculpture. Her work
was included in Feats oj Clay and the Orton Conebox Show.
Sondra Dorn is teaching at Arrowmont. She was profiled
in a recent issue of Fiheiarts, and she’s getting ready for an invi
tational show at the Atlanta Financial Center. Shawn Ireland
had a successful Smithsonian Craft Fair this spring. He has now
fired the Barns wood kiln thirteen times.
Hoss Haley has been in recent shows at W. D.O.
(Charlotte), the Denver Center for the Visual Arts, and Blue
Spiral (Asheville); he just finished teaching here and at
Haystack. Junichiro Baba returned to Japan briefly for the
G.A.S conference. He has now equipped his studio and he’s
making work for upcoming shows, including a three-person
exhibition at the Penland Gallery. Cynthia Stone has been busy
with the Nancy Sachs Valentine Show, the Piedmont Crcjtsmen New
Members Show, the Winter Park Arts Festival, and the Fjth Annual
Artworks Festival (where she won an award of excellence).
IMPORTANT EVENTS
Penland Postmistress Becky Davis received an award for thirty
years of service. Neighbor Billie Ruth Sudduth was named a
North Carolina Living Treasure jby Wilmington’s Museum of
World Cultures. Samuel Joseph Gardner, son of Glen and
Chris Gardner was born with a hammer in his hand on
January 29. The 1998 Penland School Art Scholarship went to
Mitchell High School senior Renee Miller who will apply it to
studies in drafting and architecture. Trustee Clarence Morgan
received a 1998 Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship.
SAD NEWS
We were shocked and saddened by two unexpected deaths this
summer. Sarah Wells was a wonderful movement instructor
and a good friend. Textile instructor and program advisor
Kerris Wolsky (who was scheduled to teach this summer) was
the president of Harlem Textile Works, Inc.