This past summer, Arts Teachers Meg Cooper and Diantha Giltz participated in courses at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. Founded in 1929, Penland offers an immersive experience for artists of all levels.

Meg, who also teaches History and Social Sciences at Forman, was enrolled in Screenprinting and Soda Firing, which Alex Thierry taught at Penland. Diantha was enrolled in Touch and Go, a metals course led by Kirk Lang. 

“Touch and Go was a hands-on exploration of creating kinetic, moving elements in our metalwork,” says Diantha. “As a group, we collaborated on innovative techniques and pushed the boundaries of our own work.”

Meg and Diantha were both grateful for the opportunities to enhance their work and bring their experiences back to their classrooms. 

“As a teacher, my time at Penland was a professional and creative recharge,” Diantha shares. “I returned to my practice invigorated and equipped with new skills.”

“I am so thankful to the Forman community for supporting my personal work as an artist through funding the first workshop,” Meg shares. “I'm excited to bring what I learned into the class studio!”

Following her workshop at Penland, Meg went to the Haystack School of Crafts, where she had been accepted through a Student Assistant Fellowship. There, she participated in a workshop, creating sculptural work with porcelain. As a Studio Assistant, she helped “with everything from loading kilns, supporting my peers, screening class shirts, and sharing a short artist’s talk with the Haystack community about my work, practice, and how that intersects with our students here at Forman.”