These “baskets” appeared on the knoll halfway through our summer, making their entrance during our annual handmade parade.
They captured our imaginations as we crafted till we could craft no more.
The letters were anonymously rearranged to spell “FART” several times during the summer.Students like Ellie Taubner interacted with the basketsInstructor Brad Vetter made this inspiring print in the letterpress studio.Posing with the baskets during the Penland Benefit Auction
Made of introduced (non-native) vines from the Penland property, they are a random weave (official basketry term) of mostly wisteria as well as some bittersweet, kudzu, honeysuckle, and ivy.
An armature was created to support the randomly woven vinesWeaving the giant baskets was lots of fun.
Claire Drennan dreamed up the CRAFT baskets up and wove them with Rachel Brettinger, Erin Castellan, Susan Feagin, Lori Brook Johnson, Mirrah Johnson, Sarah McDowell, Jeffrey Milloy, and Therese Watkins. All of the harvesting and weaving happened in two short weeks on nights and weekends.
Alena Applerose, Zanne Cox, Ashley Poole, and Marianna Popp joined the fun in the handmade parade.Penland Resident Artist Sarita Westrup’s furry friend Lobo enjoyed the baskets too.
Jean McLaughlin (right) with the other recipients of the James Renwick Alliance Distinguished Educator Award. Left to right: Paul Sacardiz for the Haystack Fab Lab, Chunghi Choo, Jamie Bennett, Jean McLaughlin.
Jean McLaughlin, Penland’s longtime director, was honored this spring with a 2016 Distinguished Craft Educators Award from the James Renwick Alliance in Washington, DC. The Alliance is a nonprofit organization that works to promote craft artists and craft education and helps to support the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the nation’s showcase for 20th and 21st century American crafts.
The James Renwick Alliance chooses Distinguished Craft Educators based on the recipient’s reputation for excellence and innovation in education, their influence on future artists in an education program, and their significant contributions to American education in the craft field. In nominating Jean for the award, glass artist, Renwick Alliance board member, and Penland trustee Tim Tate wrote, “When Jean came to Penland eighteen years ago, she breathed new life into the institution. She rebuilt or renovated most of the studios on campus. Thousands of students have passed through their doors, and almost every Distinguished Educator the Renwick Alliance has honored in the past has taught at Penland. Jean’s impact is hard to judge as its scope is so large.”
Jean celebrates after the award ceremony with a crowd of Penland friends.
As part of the award ceremony in April, the Alliance invited Jean to present a short lecture, which she devoted to an overview of Penland’s renowned craft workshops and residencies. “Penland is a leader in education,” Jean told the audience. “I can hardly lay claim to these accomplishments because they are the result of the minds and hands of many staff members and trustees—but my belief in Penland’s educational model is why I moved to Penland to become its director in 1998 and why I believe that I am here today!”
Congratulations, Jean, on this well-deserved honor! All of us in the Penland community benefit from your care, your dedication, and your vision.
