penland community open house

Yesterday I attended the Penland Open House and I had several students attend as well. I started volunteering at the open house each Spring since I moved to North Carolina. It's been three years though since Penland the last open house due to COVID. It was a rainy day, but we still had around 400 people attend. Jill and the girls came down to participate as well. I worked in the Metals Studio and we made roller printed pendants/keychains. Nadia had made some cool etched steel press plates using a spray paint rests and the laser cutter. I worked the Roper Whitney punch station and helped participants place holes in their pieces of copper. It's always fun to see my students assist with these kinds of events and it makes me proud to see them sharing their time and their skills.

 

steamer loan

Nadia (Penland Metals Coordinator) texted the other day to see if I had a steamer. that she could borrow for an upcoming workshop. I did in fact have a steamer that I had bought in Milwaukee from a jewelry store that was going out of business. If I remember correctly, I bought it for $20 thinking that I might someday use it. When Nadia asked me about the steamer I told her that I had never used it in the ten years that I've probably owned it. I ran over to the studio and topped it off with water and proceeded to test it. It cleaned my crescent wrench beautifully after it built the necessary pressure. I'm not sure why I've never used this; it's awesome! I think we'll be using this during my casting class for blasting excesses investment in tight areas. I loaned it to Nadia for a week or two for the workshop and she was very grateful. I was glad to help and go to learn something as well!

rachel kedinger

Rachel will be working with me for the next several weeks as a part of her studies at Penland. She is almost finished with the Core program. It's been amazing to see her work develop further. When I first interviewed at App she called me when she found out. We talked about how awesome it would be in close proximity to each other. Rachel was one of my 3D Foundations students and went through the Metals program at UWM. Rachel stood out from the very beginning. She later worked for Smith Shop in Detroit and then was accepted into the Core program at Penland. 

In the first couple meetings that we have had at my Boone studio I have covered RhinoCAM 2.5 axis and 3 axis machining operations and she started using the Tormach to cut spoon dies which will be eventually cut in steel so she can use the power hammer or hydraulic press in her blacksmithing work with forged steel and forged brass work that she does. We have also had some great talks about life and work and what she will do when her time at Penland is done. At our last session she took a call from a potential employer and ended up landing her dream job. I am so proud of Rachel and her work ethic. I can't wait to see what all she accomplishes at her new job and in her personal work.

penland welcome center/gallery