The Penland School of Crafts (located near the small town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, about one hour north of Asheville), is a unique, internationally recognized craft school where students are immersed in a single craft, all day, every day, for one- or two week sessions called “concentrations”. Classes at Penland may include paper making, pottery, drawing and painting, glassblowing, iron smithing, metalsmithing, photography, printmaking, textiles, wood, and others. Studios are equipped with all the tools that students need to practice their craft, though students may be required to purchase extra materials for their particular class.
No Standing Faculty
Rather than keeping a static faculty, the instructors at Penland are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their crafts who come in to teach for one or two sessions. The result is that students benefit from a wealth of knowledge and crafting techniques from all over the U.S. and the world.
Should students choose to attend two sessions of their particular craft, they will benefit from being taught differing methods and techniques by outstanding teachers. The instructors who teach at Penland are often master craftspeople with their own studios who make a living at their chosen crafts, and many are professors at universities.
Skilled Craftspeople and Beginners
Penland does not require students to be expert craftspeople when they attend the school. Classes are populated by people of all ages (students must be at least 18 to attend classes at Penland) and all experience levels. For instance, there may be students taking glassblowing who have never touched a blow pipe in their lives, while other students may have their own studios and are taking a class in order to expand their knowledge and techniques.
Gorgeous Mountain Setting
The Penland School of Crafts is nestled in a remote, beautiful mountain setting in North Carolina where students are more likely to wake to the sounds of birds singing and the breeze through the trees than the noise of traffic. The grounds at Penland are lush and green, and the airy studios often have their windows and doors open to the beauty outside.
In fact, craftspeople attending Penland are often so influenced by the natural splendor there that they find themselves being inspired by, or even incorporating, elements from the surrounding environment. Meals are taken in a common cafeteria, and the cooks at Penland often integrate as much local food in the meals as possible.
Artists in Residence
In addition to the faculty who are just visiting at Penland, students have ample opportunities to learn from the many artists-in-residence who work for three-year stints in studios in the wilderness around Penland. There are also several professional craftspeople and artists who have simply chosen to live near the school, and many of their studios are also open to students.
An Experience that Lasts
Most students who attend the Penland School of Crafts find that they remember and appreciate the experience for a lifetime. It’s a unique chance to be immersed one’s craft in the presence of other craftspeople while sharing techniques and making lifelong friends.
For more information about the Penland School of Crafts, consult Penland’s website.
Pottery is just one of the focuses at Penland
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