Parties at Penland

After everyone gets settled in at Penland, the different studios plan parties.  This way we break up the studio time and also get to know each other, across disciplinary lines.  Being rather irreverent folks, artists usually find a way to make gentle fun of their craft.  They are also very good at making their own fun, in general.

The first party was an annual tradition, "Pin the pastie on the pinup," at the blacksmithing studio.  In case you think this in poor taste, please keep in mind that the pasties are exquisitely crafted and there's no anti-feminism at play.  Many of the "models" were guys; in the interest of preserving anonymity for anyone who decides he or she wants to go to business school or law school at a later date instead of being a fine crafts person, I've restricted the pictures of pastie wearers.

Here's what the iron studio usually looks like, above right (in the dark, since the party was at night).  And below is one of the party goers, Lee from Seattle, who's in the Metals studio. Check out the amazing iron work behind him.

Next, a selection of pasties--each studio provided one or more sets.  In order: cast paper pasties from the book and paper  studio, iron and steel pasties from the blacksmithing studio, and felted pasties (along with more typical samples of work in a beginning felting class) from the textiles studio. 

The members of the felting class were great participants--all had their own pasties made on time for the party.  I decided I should go see what else they were doing, so here are some more shots of felters at work.

The rollers are used to make the different elements of wet felt bond together.  The colors are very rich, and it is almost impossible not to touch these pieces.

Here's Susan with her completed felt-covered book (above). The critter on the right is inside the front cover.  Susan's from New Mexico; another woman in this class came all the way from Brazil.

Time soon for another Friday-night party:  on April 1, there's  going to be an "edible book" party hosted by the book and paper  studio.  This is not an April fool's joke--in fact, this is an international event.  You can learn more about it at:  

http://www.books2eat.com/

More on this event later, and also on our progress making different kinds of paper and book structures.