PENLAND LINE
Neighborhood News
Transitions
j PENLAND’S NEW GENERATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE.
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j WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTHS OF FOUR
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i BOYS. INSTEAD OF COMING IN LIKE A LION AND GOING OUT
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j LIKE A LAMB, MARCH CAME AND WENT WITH LITTLETONS
t THIS YEAR. SEJIRO SASHASEN KING LITTLETON WAS
BORN TO Barbara King & Tom Littleton on
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March 1. He was followed a month later on the
31st BY HIS COUSIN JOHNPAUL CHRISTOPHER
Littleton, son of Kate Vogel & John Littleton.
David & Donna Ross welcomed John William
February 7. Bridget & Rick Eckerd celebrated
THE BIRTH OF PATRICK JAMES ON MARCH 23.
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, JACK Neff, who is the subject of a Penland Line
^ PROFILE (PAGE 12), IS RECOVERING FROM CHEMOTHERAPY
TREATMENTS. HE IS GAINING STRENGTH AND LOOKING
' FORWARD TO GETTING BACK HOME. HE’D LIKE TO THANK
THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED FOR HIS TREATMENT. HE'S
BEEN USING THE FUNDS FOR HIS MEDICAL EXPENSES.
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IT IS WITH DEEPEST SORROW THAT WE NOTE THE RECENT
PASSING OF OUR DEAR FRIEND ROBERT C. MAY. BOB
WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER AND A DEDICATED
TEACHER AND, UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT, AN EXECUTIVE
OF IBM CORPORATION IN LEXINGTON, KY. WHILE HE WAS
AT IBM, HE SECURED MANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HIS
COMPANY IN MATCHING FUNDS FOR HIS OWN GENEROUS
i SUPPORT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM AT PENLAND.
WHEN BOB WAS TEACHING AT PENLAND OR WHEN HE
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WOULD COME TO VISIT, HE COULD ALWAYS BE FOUND,
EVEN IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING,
SURROUNDED BY A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO MIGHT NEED
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR MIGHT SIMPLY WANT TO HEAR
Bob’s photographic tales, he was a southern
RACONTEUR OF THE FIRST ORDER. BOB WAS A GENTLE
MAN IN A SIX-FOOT-SEVEN-INCH FRAME, AND ALTHOUGH
WE WILL MISS HIM VERY MUCH, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A
PART OF HIM HERE ON THIS MOUNTAIN. SOME OF THAT
PRESENCE IS IN THE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES THAT
HIS GENEROUS DONATIONS MADE POSSIBLE, BUT THE
LARGEST PART OF THAT PRESENCE IS WHAT WILL BE
KEPT IN OUR HEARTS AND OUR VERY FOND MEMORIES.
- EVON STREETMAN
SAFETY FIRST
Penland has its own volunteer safety coordinator in the
person of Board member Dick Blomberg, a retired DuPont
engineer. As Chair of the Facilities and Grounds Commit
tee, Dick has brought his passion for crafts, his back
ground in engineering and his penchant for research to
bear on safety issues in the crafts and at Penland.
He has a willing partner in staff studio technician Larry
Cate, who keeps a weather eye out for possible hazards as
he works his way through his list of needed studio repairs
and routine maintenance. "When you are working in an
institution as old as Penland, you have to stay on top of all
the information coming out so that older installations can
be changed to reflect new approaches," said Larry. "That's
where Dick comes in; he's brought us lots of useful
information, plus simple ideas for solving problems."
The safety problems which Penland needs to be aware of
in our studios are the same ones each craftsperson faces.
There's a lot to take into consideration when setting up a
studio, so we thought we'd share information about the
Center for Safety in the Arts which publishes a newsletter
five times a year. The most recent issue covers the hazards
in ceramics and wood studios and offers remedies. Dick
has listed those which affect our studios, and he and Larry
are taking the necessary precautions.
A particular concern for a school located in an isolated
area is hazardous waste disposal. The metals, glass,
printmaking and photography studios all generate toxic
waste. But the good news is that there are simple in-house
solutions. For several years we have been collecting the
photo fixer by carrying it out of the building and dumping
it in barrels. Beginning this year we plan to run this waste
through a metal recovery canister, supplied by DuPont for
$125. After the fixer is run through the canister it is safe
to put in a drain. The canister is returned to DuPont and
Penland is paid for any silver which is recovered. Dick has
devised a new system, to be installed before classes start
this spring, which will make this combination recycling/
hazardous waste treatment process easier. He has also
developed plans for neutralizing acids and precipitating
copper from etching solutions.
This winter, Larry's list of studio maintenance included
the installation of ventilation fans in the fibers studios and
the improvement of electrical installations by such things
as adding lightning resistors, switches, thermostats, out
lets, and upgrading existing outlets. Some new breaker
boxes have been installed and others have been changed
from 100 amp to 200 amp wire. Many of the repairs on his
list were not specifically related to safety issues. However,
Larry says he always tries to make sure everything he does
reduces hazards.
Jane Lefevre and Judson Guerard, studio coordinators
for ceramics and glass, have joined with Larry in the off
season maintenance and repair. Safety awareness is a top
priority for everyone. Penland's mission is to nurture and
educate those with an abiding interest in crafts and cer
tainly learning the tricks of the trade for dealing with the
hazards of the trade is part of that process.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you are interested in the Arts Hazards News or infor
mation which might help you in your studio, write to the
Center for Safety in the Arts, 5 Beekman Street, Suite
1030, New York, NY 10038. The newsletter is $21.00 a
year and covers such topics as hazards, precautions, gov
ernment regulations, lawsuits, events and other related
topics. Their telephone number is 212-227-6220. @
SAVE THE DATE
August 13 and 14 are the dates for the 1993 Penland Auction. Friday the 13th will no doubt prove lucky for Patrons who
arrive in time to preview works donated: by craft artists .the world over.
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The Benefit Auction weekend begins With a preview party for Auction Donors and Patrons on Friday, August 13 and
continues with an Open House at the Penland Gallery on Saturday morning before culminating in the much-anticipated
buffet luncheon under the tent and, of course, the live auction. Fred Kessler will lend his rich baritone for the eighth year
as he calls out to start the bidding for wdrks in glass, clay, fiber and a variety of other media.
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Penland's Benefit Auction draws eager collectors and craft enthusiasts from all over the country to the mountain and never
fails to fill the seats under the big top early. Invitations will be in the mail by July 1, so let us know if you'd like your name
added to a growing list. Call Rebecca Caldwell or Emily Crain at 704-765-2359 for information.
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