More Spring Parties!

By the end of April, the weather starts to get nice, just in time for a big annual event at Penland, the community Easter Egg Hunt.  This coincided with the completion of a large new deck providing expanded work space for the  clay and metals studios, which seemed like another good opportunity to celebrate. So, for 2011, Penland hosted a Good Friday Martini party on the new deck (to which every one was supposed to bring a martini glass representing his or her studio) and then an Easter potluck and egg hunt for the surrounding community (to which artists contributed decorated eggs representing their studios).

 Director Jean McLaughlin, Executive Director of Penland (above) looking elegant.

 Melissa (below), relishing the olive after enjoying her martini from the kozo cup.

Easter Sunday April 24, was a beautiful day for a community brunch and egg hunt.  Penland's kitchen (known  for its spectacular meals) supplied the Sunday breakfast dishes and people coming from nearby towns brought  pot luck dishes. Penland core students hid the eggs on campus around noon (Core students are the artistic workforce "backbone" --they reside and take classes for two years while managing the work study students each session and planning events like this one.) Kids under 7 yr olds got the first stab at finding eggs, some of which are elaborate and beautiful collectors' items.  Then  the hunt was opened up to adults.  Hundreds of people turned out, as they do each year, for this joyful event.

 Jean McLaughlin, Executive Director of Penland (above), in another one of her guises, with Jerry Jackson, Deputy Director.

Kim, the incredible baker at Penland's kitchen, and a snappy dresser.



To sum it up: for several weeks, regardless of whether we were learning techniques in fiber or clay, metals or glass, paper or iron--we were also designing eggs and martini glasses!   This helped diffuse any tension we might have felt about the state of our work at this mid-way point.  These events were lots of fun.  They also were scheduled so as not to interfere with anyone's religious activities (church on Sunday or Passover, for which a Seder was held in the dining hall with an appropriate meal).