HF Penland Line
PENLAND LINE
Editor/Writer: Robin Dreyer
Production: Robin Dreyer, Eileen Wallace
Photographs: Robin Dreyer, Dana Moore, Candace Freeland,
IlaSahai Prouty
Contributors: Robert Chiarito, Donna Jean Dreyer,
Erika Sanger, Janet Taylor
Special thanks to Kat Conley, Kathryn Gremley, George Kokis,
Harvey Littleton, IlaSahai Prouty, Helene Safire,
Jeff Scherer
The Penland Line is published twice a year to communicate
thoughts about the programs, people, and philosophy of
Penland and to keep in touch with several groups of people
at once: craftspeople and friends living nearby, instructors,
donors, and Penland Friends. We invite you to share your
news, opinions, and/or photographs with us. And please let
us know what you think of the Penland Line.
Penland School of Crafts
Post Office Box 37
Penland, NC 28765-0037
704-765-2359
704-765-7389 fax
e-mail: office@penland.org
web page: http://penland.org
A Letter from the Interim Director
We’ve had smooth sailing through a busy summer and fall with nearly full enrollment. A search committee is hard at
work reviewing resumes, checking references and getting ready for the first set of interviews for a new director. They
have planned a very thorough, careful process, and do not expect an appointment before the end of February.
For me it has been an opportimity to return to familiar sights and old friends, with new eyes and a different per
spective. During my earlier incarnations as Penland’s publicist and fundraiser, 1 was an observer, writer, a cheerleader;
now 1 am center stage, meeting each group of instructors, welcoming students at Sunday night gatherings, moving in
and out of studios, and being amazed at the work I see at student auctions and Show and Tell.
This fall 1 met with each class to learn a little about every student in Concentration, how they came to be at
Penland and what they hope to take away from this sojourn. 1 was struck by how much people sacrifice and what com
plicated arrangements they have to make to be free for eight weeks of work in Penland’s studios.
Seven students this fall quit their jobs to be here, several day students are continuing to work part-time, some are
taking a break from college, two traveled across an ocean, a large number had to arrange caretakers for elderly rela
tives, children, pets, houses, and businesses. As always, many are in a time of transition: making a change in their
work, grieving for the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship, moving from one medium to another, or try
ing to decide if it is time to make the choice to be a full-time studio artist.
I’ve been able to chat with many students as the weeks have passed and I have seen the changes in their faces. 1 said
to one student that she looked much more rested than when she came, but that I knew she hadn’t been getting much
sleep. “That’s true,” she replied, “but I’ve had a different kind of rest.” She also said that after three weeks she had made
a new discovery in her work which had changed everything for her; she had also made a wonderful friend who shared
her particular artistic vision.
Soon I’ll walk up to Northlight to see another show of work and hear the stories of the fall, and be amazed again at
what has transpired in the studios and in the hearts of these sojourners. I will again touch the essence of Penland.
—Donna Jean Dreyer
The Penland Core students are full-time students who work for the school in exchange for room, board, and
tuition. Core students become integral members of the Penland stcff. Each (f them has specfic duties and they also
serve a leadership role among the work/study students. Pictured above is the 1997 Core. Top row: Nancy Barnett,
Elizabeth Dorbad, Caverly Morgan, Daniel Price. Bottom row: Christopher Robinson, Susie Shipman, Troy Hines,
Michael Hunt's teapot, Geoff Calabrese. Nancy, Elizabeth, Christopher, Susie, Michael, and Geoff will all be leav
ing this winter. We’11 keep you posted on where they land. Attention former Core students: We are
trying to assemble a comprehensive list of former Core students. If you were in the Core program,
please write down the names and current addresses of any Core students you are in touch with and
send it to Geraldine Plato, c/o Penland School of Crafts.