Penland School of Craft as a Case Study in Community and the Way Americans Think About It.

Penland School of Craft is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. I had the chance to spend some time interacting with this fascinating community of artists for a weekend this summer while I was working in Richmond, VA. My partner won one of five scholarships through the fine arts department here at Mississippi State to study their craft at a school of craft the Penland it was. This proximity to Richmond also allowed us to visit for the first time in months. 

When I arrived, I was immediately swarmed with a group of other artists who had made friends with my partner through their group artistic endeavors. They all lived in cabins surrounding the central grounds for a month and went into common areas all day every day. They all endeavored for common goals of craft and shared free time by doing community activities and cooking meals together. Rylee, my partner, was overwhelmed with a love for this sort of community, as it was the first time that they had felt that, well ever having come from a small town in the south that is so vehicularly and private property oriented. 

I did not know it at the time, but I now see the Penland School of craft as a thing that is very similar to the cohousing projects that we have looked at. Obviously, it is not a permanent residence for most who visit, but there are permanent and year-long residencies that can be done. The people all live in their own small dwellings in very close proximity to one another, share in the chores that need to be done daily, and have a commonality to goal and thought within the community. This is a great experience for anyone wanting to get a feel for what living in a commune or cohousing community could be. 

I did not know it at the time, but I now see the Penland School of craft as a thing that is very similar to the cohousing projects that we have looked at. Obviously, it is not a permanent residence for most who visit, but there are permanent and year-long residencies that can be done. The people all live in their own small dwellings in very close proximity to one another, share in the chores that need to be done daily, and have a commonality to goal and thought within the community. This is a great experience for anyone wanting to get a feel for what living in a commune or cohousing community could be. 

Links to Consider

https://penland.org/

https://www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections/CraftRevival/story/penland.html

https://www.craftinamerica.org/artist/penland-school-of-crafts/