The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience

In honor of its 75th birthday, Penland has created a very special gift that celebrates its own history and that crafters will treasure forever. It is, first and foremost, a visual delight, with 137 images of pieces created by Penland instructors and shown at an anniversary exhibition. But the volume goes beyond the Penland School, with a series of original essays that offer a fresh and inclusive vision of the power of crafting. Written primarily by those outside the field—including a Nobel Laureate chemist—who came to Penland and immersed themselves in the unique experience, these articles look at crafting from the perspective of the anthropologist, scientist, folklorist, sociologist, poet, cultural historian, and critic. Their thoughts prove provocative, highly personal, and unforgettable.