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miTERIM DIRECTORS REPORT
It is my pleasure to report that this interim period has been
relatively trouble-free due to the help and support of a
great staff, an energetic and involved Board of Trustees
and, of course, the instructors and community of neigh
bors and friends. For each problem there has been an
enthusiastic "let me help" from all of the above!
Kat Conley, Larry Cate and the studio coordinators are
prioritizing and solving studio problems; repairing equip
ment, installing safety features, such as cabinetry for the
safekeeping of hazardous materials. The studios are the
heart of Penland School and they require our utmost
attention and care.
The new Penland Gallery has been carried through this
interim period under the skillful professional direction of
Janet Frazier and Mary Middleton. They are not simply
salesclerks, they are Penland devotees who answer thou
sands of questions and show the Penland slide show
several times each day to countless visitors. They have
done an incredible job.
Our accounting has not missed a step through the creativ
ity and skill of Helen Cate. Helen has been out on
maternity leave during this period which, I must admit,
had me apprehensive at first. She has worked from her
home via modem hook-up with the school's system and
has actually been not only able to stay on top of the
accounting needs but has actually been able to provide
reports and such on an earlier schedule than before! She
has had the help of one of our newest employees, Emily
Crain, who, as administrative assistant, has been learning
much about many of the departments.
The on-going team efforts of Donna jean Dreyer, Alicia
Keshishian and Rebecca Caldwell have kept us all on our
toes so that our most important publication, promotion
and fundraising efforts such as the catalog, advertising and
this very Penland Line continue to be timely and of the
usual excellent quality.
Harold Jones, Director of Facility, and his assistants,
Danny Branton and Bruce Mathis, have the monstrous
task of maintaining this facility, - not to mention taking
care of capital projects — all to be juggled between snow
storms, available subcontractors and crisis situations.
Harold has the unenviable task of having to decide what
has to be done first, second and last, which always makes
someone unhappy! His advice has been invaluable.
The instructors for this past Fall Concentration and studio
coordinators brought not only skill and ability to studios
but they also provided stability in what could have been
a very unstable situation. My thanks to Richard and Jan
Ritter, Skip Johnson, Sarah Perkins, Celia Braswell,
George Lowe and studio coordinators Judson Guerard,
Jane Lefevre, Doug Harling and Doug Sigler
Thanks too to our seldom-seen but oh-so-important
kitchen staff: Pearl Grindstaff and Robert Hynes. The
food this fall was wonderful. It is difficult to keep everyone
happy for eight straight weeks, but they did.
Tim Veness switched hats after Fall Concentration to
begin helping me, especially with preparation of the 1993
operating budget. Helen and Tim's ability and under
standing of the budget process and Tim’s skill on the
Macintosh computer saved our skins. Tim and Helen
worked long hard hours in order to accomplish this
difficult task.
I could go on and on ...thanks Lisa Poteat for your great
telephone skills, your patience and warmth with people
who call with questions; thanks Emily Crain for all your
help m so many ways, especially in getting the new library
set up, thanks to Jennifer Joyce and the CORE Students
and Residents and Dick Blomberg for your input and
wisdom. If I missed someone. I'm sorry. There is not one
person on this hill or in the community who has not made
the smooth transition possible.
Penland School will survive forever because of the people
who give so much. Each and every one of you out there
who receives this Penland Lineis Penland School. Thanks
for your continued support, caring and friendship.
“Connie Sedberry |5ji
PENLAND B LINE
Report Card
CORE FACTS & FANTASIES
Bradley Walters, Mark Tomczak and Rosie Sharpe
HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SECOND YEAR AS CORE STU
DENTS AND WILL BEGIN THEIR PPP ( POST-PEN LAN D
PERIOD). BRAD HAS DECIDED TO STAY AT PENLAND THIS
WINTER TO WORK IN HIS MEDIUM, CLAY. HE HOPES TO
PRODUCE A LOT OF WORK, BUT IS MOSTLY EXCITED ABOUT
FINDING A NEW LOCATION, EITHER AT GRADUATE SCHOOL
OR A RESIDENCY IN A SIMILAR CRAFT SCHOOL. MARK LEFT
PENLAND IN NOVEMBER TO RETURN TO FLINT, Ml TO
APPLY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOLS IN CERAMICS AND FIND A
JOB SO HE CAN EARN MONEY TO PAY FOR IT. ROSIE, WHO
CLAIMED TO BE READY FOR THE REAL WORLD, ALSO LEFT
IN November to move to Eugene, Oregon to fight
HOMOPHOBIA. SHE'S GIVING HERSELF A YEAR TO EXPLORE
NEW OPPORTUNITIES: ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.
GRADUATE SCHOOL, OR TEXTILE WORK IN FOREIGN LANDS.
JOHN PODI.IPEC, SONDRA DORN, DAN ESSIG, JENNY
Drum and Kurt Nielsen, all first year CORE
STUDENTS are STAYING AT PENLAND THIS WINTER TO
WORK IN THEIR CHOSEN MEDIUMS. THEY HOPE TO GET
SOME WORK DONE IN THE PEACE AND QUIET OF THE
MOUNTAINS. However, these five have speculated on
THEIR OWN PPP. JOHN, METALSMITH, INTENDS TO MOVE
TO Las Vegas and become a topless waiter, dan,
BOOK artist, never INTENDS TO LEAVE PENLAND AND
PLANS TO LIVE IN THE NEARBY WOODS AND SNEAK DOWN
,TO THE STUDIOS AT NIGHT. SONDRA, TEXTILE ARTIST, HAS
DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER DREAM OF MONSTER TRUCK
RACING. JENNY, POTTER, PLANS TO SET UP A NOODLE
STAND IN Thailand, while Kurt, woodworker, has
ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO SET SAIL TO SIBERIA
TO SEARCH FOR AND STUDY THE INDIGENOUS SIBERIAN
GNOMES. - CORE STUDENTS
SEARCH FACTS & FUTURE
The Search Committee will soon be conducting
initial interviews for the position of director, a
SECOND ROUND OF INTERVIEWS WITH TWO FINAL CANDI
DATES WILL BE SCHEDULED IN TIME FOR A RECOMMENDA
TION TO BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD IN MARCH. TO DATE,
THERE HAVE BEEN 180 INQUIRIES AND 97 COMPLETED
applications. Our thanks to all those who took the
TIME TO APPLY AND IN MANY CASES SHARED EXCELLENT
IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE OF PENLAND. -SUSAN LARSON
TiT