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Our second cohort of GlassRoots Fellows arrived from Newark last week and we are excited to be able to continue our series of blog posts with these talented artists. First up, we have Manny Ogbonnaya. Here’s what Manny has to say about his first couple of weeks at Peters Valley:

“It is day 11 of my time at Peter’s Valley. The switch from the city to the country can do wonders for the mind. This week I am taking a woodworking class, my second one so far, and it has been an amazing experience from day one, watching rough sketches and pieces of wood transform into something tangible and functional. I guess in a way, that is how most art is. It has been really nice to in a way disconnect from the day-to-day routine and pick up a new one solely focused on a singular task.

I truly am excited for the next five weeks; it is quite breathtaking to see how many skills one can pick up in a day. Personally my favorite thing about woodworking is how many little tricks and tools exist. It is a very problem-solving oriented craft, from using the tools that already exist to build the tools you, need to creating the final project, it is quite fascinating. I also really like how many different approaches there are to solving one problem; asking three different people will often provide three different solutions.

It has also been quite the experience meeting so many different people- each week meeting a completely different class- I think only experience can truly prepare a person for that. All in all, it has been great. I am excited for the weeks to come, I believe I will come out of this program a much better person. I am very grateful to GlassRoots and Peter’s Valley for the opportunity.”

As we wrap up this first series of guest blog posts from our GlassRoots Artist Fellows, Joshua (Red) Jackson has written an incredibly moving post about his experience at Peter Valley:

“Have you ever had a dream you felt you couldn’t make come true?
That’s easily a massive part of my life, and for a while, I’d even accepted that as a massive part of growing up. I’d consigned myself to the things I was currently able to do, over my personal wants in pursuit of success and fulfillment. This went on for about 7 years. So you could probably understand how huge it is when I say my 7 week stay at Peter’s Valley restored 7 years’ worth of unfulfilled dreams.

Let’s start simple. I come from a middle-class family, and a nerdy one at that. I remember watching Lord of The Rings with my 2 siblings, and having swordfights, or watching dwarves make incredible treasures.
And at some point, you think to yourself “I want to make that”.
And then you google it, find out how, and realize the current you can’t afford it.
Rinse and repeat.

It was Covid that broke the cycle. Promotion with my employer, gone. Physical access to friends and family, gone. Unemployment came into play, so bills and groceries were covered for the most part. But it also highlighted the fact that I had no idea what I would do after this–I had no college degree, would be in-between jobs once again, and student debt was still throwing jabs.
So, no financial crisis, no friends, no family, no job, and no degree–in the middle of a social distancing pandemic. My world had essentially stopped. And just like that, I suddenly had time to think about what mattered to me.

Enter Peter’s Valley.
From the moment I saw the trailer, I wanted to come here more than anywhere else in the world. I came out here with the highest expectations, and was met in kind–the freedom to create.
From woodworking to blacksmithing, from fine metals to precious stones, almost every possible resource was available to me. The resources alone were half the battle–I had all the bait to go fishing, but no idea how to fish.

Which brings me to the teachers–experts in their field, every time. Whenever I brought out some dusty idea that I’d tucked away for years in the “Give Up” vault, I was almost never met with a “you can’t”. And when “I couldn’t”, they would explain why, and help me find another way to make that dream manifest.

I’ve learned refining processes, different mediums to shape my thoughts, and made new and endearing friends all the while. I’ve visited auctions and learned the value that others place on your art. And as we speak, my drawers are filled with dreams that I never thought would leave pencil and paper.

I’ve got new skills now. New associates too. And new dreams to come with them. I’m still positioning myself to accomplish those, but they’ll be my steps down the creative path set before me. I hope to show my family the new reaches of my capabilities–and then the world maybe.

I’m infinitely grateful for the time I’ve spent here.
And even more grateful for the staff and assistants that made that time worthwhile.
Apparently 70% of the nation’s vaccinated now. Which means my world’s starting to turn again. And I have a hunch I’ll be ready for when it does.”

We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet these six talented artists and welcome them to campus this summer. We are sad that their time at Peters Valley is coming to an end, but look forward to seeing what their future artistic careers hold! Next week we’ll welcome a second cohort of Fellows from GlassRoots and, like the first cohort, they will have the chance to share their experiences through guest posts on the blog. Stay tuned!

Continuing our series of guest posts by our fabulous first cohort of GlassRoots Fellows, Gerald Abreu writes about his experience at Peters Valley below: 

“I’m writing this post during my 6^th week here at Peter’s Valley. I’ve taken seven classes thus far, and truthfully, this has been a fantastic experience. I came to Peters Valley without knowing what I wanted to do in life. I was lacking any extensive or formal training in the arts beyond the few high school classes I took, so I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to really enjoy myself. But I was surprised to find how encouraging the people here are. The teachers, assistants, art fellows and staff members are all very patient and approachable. 

Despite my numerous errors during my tenure here, I’ve heard nothing but positive reinforcement. And despite how short the classes are, I was able to learn a lot due to the phenomenal teachers. Nothing was too hard or out of reach to achieve.

My roommates are also great, interesting people that have done a lot in enriching my stay at Peters Valley.

Even though I still don’t know entirely what I want to do in the future, I’m glad to have decided to come here and leave my comfort zone. I’d like to thank everyone I’ve met here for being such great people. And I hope that more folks reach out to Peters Valley to learn more about art, nature, or themselves. It’s never too late.”

One month into his GlassRoots fellowship, Erlea Dani Jimenez writes about how Peters Valley has opened his eyes up to new mediums and ways of making:

“My experience at Peters Valley has been absolutely thrilling! This experience has helped me gain a new perspective on the arts world. My first introduction to the arts world came from GlassRoots, a small but rapidly growing nonprofit located in Newark, NJ, my hometown. Being introduced to the vast sea that is the art world, I only learned how to swim through experience, not a strictly regulated education. I went to a science oriented public high school, and sadly to them that meant that art was not focused nor even really mentioned in most of the curriculum. As a result the only real experiences I’ve had with formal art were through GlassRoots and the glass world, but now thanks to Peters Valley that has changed!

 I’ve only been here for one month, but in that time, I’ve taken six classes all with focuses on different mediums and new, but related, skill sets. In this new experience, I am thinking about ways in which I can interlace mediums e.g. using basket weaving and chasing as a means to create jewelry. I had never imagined that I’d have that thought, let alone imagine the amazing breadth and depth of knowledge gained through this program. The GlassRoots-Peters Valley Fellowship is allowing me to create and explore new unseen realms of art. It’s given me inspiration to change my focus in life to embrace the different art mediums and the art world in a brand new way.

 I am from a lower middle class family and didn’t have much growing up, meaning I couldn’t experience the world of the arts without some kind of scholarship. If I needed to pay for an arts program, chances were I wouldn’t take it. However, thanks to this program, I am going through a radical mind shift. I am viewing the arts as a method to learning more about science, technology, business, nature, friendships and professional relationships. I am also viewing it as a strong educational tool. This feels like what I wanted college to feel like; a place where I can learn, create fond memories, craft stories, experiences and art, and begin to understand my place in the world. I have always had these kinds of considerations in the past with GlassRoots and glass art, but now that I have a larger range of artistic experiences, I feel as though I can understand the world more clearly. I can now see possibilities that have always felt locked away behind a door. Now that I have the key, I realize it was only me locked away inside, and the world Peters Valley has shown me is so much more vast and freeing.”

This post from Adelin Figueroa is the second in our series of guest blog posts with our current GlassRoots Fellows:

“A couple of years ago I was trying to discover what my art meant to me. I was fresh out of high school and became an art fellow at a craft school. During that time, I discovered what my art was all about. My paintings captured my inner turmoil and traumas and injected them into the minds of world. Since that time, I came to find life, peace, and truth. Now on a new journey in a new craft school, Peters Valley has given me the opportunity and a launch to once again discover my new life as an artist. Exploring all kinds of mediums, I now have endlessways to communicate what I have learned on my journey of finding life and embrace myself as an emerging Christian artist.

Clay speaks in ways different from sculpting with found objects or working with wood. Its process speaks more to me than the final product. With little to no experience throwing clay, Bruce has helped me quite a lot with handling clay, pulling clay, coning clay, and shaping clay. The clay is pushed down and pulled up with such force but the final product displays something so delicate, refined, and beautiful. A masterpiece. And in the same way, I too am being molded like clay in the hands of the Creator. I am excited to unveil new mediums and creativity during these final weeks left at Peters Valley that I would not have been able to do without the GlassRoots fellowship. This is just the beginning of my journey to creating loud art.”

Debora Meltz, a longtime student and Peters Valley board member, recently took the class “Basketry into Woodturning” with Janine Wang (left). She kindly wrote the following about her experience in the workshop.

“I have been a member of Peters Valley since the mid-1970’s. I’ve taken numerous workshops at Peters Valley, most of them in disciplines I had no interest in pursuing further. I just wanted to have the experience of making something different and exercising my hands and brain.

This past weekend, my friend Harriet and I took a basket weaving class at Peters Valley School of Craft. I convinced my BFF to take the class because I wanted her to discover her inner artist. Wouldn’t ya know…she’s a natural, while I struggled to keep the weaving straight. I’m not very good at things that require attention, patience and practice, so my first efforts were pretty dismal. But, in the end, thanks to our wonderful, patient and encouraging instructor, Janine Wang, I finally caught on. This was the class:

Peters Valley has a wonderfully warm, welcoming and relaxing  atmosphere, with no pressure, in which even a novice can do wonderful work.

I am taking two more workshops this summer, also in mediums I don’t normally use and don’t plan to start. But – I’ve said that before and then gotten hooked!

Making something tangible with one’s own hands is a wonderful experience, even if the result is not great. It’s good for our minds, our bodies and it ‘restoreth our soul.'”

Deb’s piece in progress, and the final product:

And other beautiful pieces:

We have officially welcomed our first cohort of GlassRoots Fellows to campus. Here, Andrea (Aye) David, one of the first group of five fellows to arrive on campus, reflects on her experience thus far:

“It’s been 3 weeks since I went from being a participant at Glassroots in the City of Newark learning about new crafts and skills, to now being a City Girl in the woods for the first time participating in intensive Arts & Crafts workshops… What an experience it has been so far. I’m currently living with 4 other people that I’ve only known for 5 weeks before now. We all don’t always have the same classes but we spend a lot of time together like a family. We go on adventures exploring the grounds of Peters Valley, doing mundane chores like laundry together, finding ways up the sometimes treacherous Thunder Mountain, and even cooking dinner and breakfast with each other throughout the week. At first I was very anxious about living with new people for 7 weeks coming out of a pandemic, but now I see this is a life changing experience and a great way to learn about others lifestyles and build friendships.

Personally, my favorite class so far has been Ceramics. It was also my first class, so I guess you can say it left a lasting impression on me. I really enjoyed the process. It’s an art form that requires technical skill and focus but at the same time it’s so freeing, relaxing, and messy. Making a mess was my favorite part because typically I don’t like getting messy at all, so it allowed me to let go and just create.

I also appreciate meeting Bruce [Dehnert, Peters Valley Head of Ceramics] and Grace [Kerr, Ceramics Studio Assistant]. Bruce knows a lot about Ceramics and has an inspiring, unique style in his craft. He also introduced me to his wife Kulvinder, who creates amazing drawings, is a curator, and describes herself as a “sentient being.” I see myself in her a bit and would like to know her more. Then there’s Grace who took a lot of hands-on time during one of the workshops to help me perfect my bowl-making while working with clay on the wheel. At first I didn’t like all the attention, but she actually taught me a lot about understanding the basic techniques and I felt like a pro after my 6th bowl.

In the first week of me being at Peters Valley as a Glassroots Fellow, they have definitely made an impact on me and influenced my inspiration. I’ve also taken Blacksmithing, Basketry and Loom Weaving since being here, so I am looking forward to seeing what else is in store for the rest of my participation here.”

      

Brienne Rosner, Peters Valley’s Gallery and Craft Fair Director, will be leaving in June to become the Managing Director at the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG). Here, she reflects on her time at Peters Valley and some of the most rewarding aspects of her role.  

Q: How long have you been at Peters Valley? 

A: I started at Peters Valley 14 years ago in 2007 part-time as the Gallery Associate. In 2009, I was promoted to Gallery Director and since 2018, I have also managed Peters Valley’s Annual Craft Fair.

Q: How did you become interested in craft, and jewelry in particular?

I truly have lived the “craft school experience.” Although I received my degree in Painting from Boston University, I have a diverse training in craft. One of the perks of being an employee at Peters Valley is getting to take a class every summer, so I would use my vacation days to take a workshop each year. The experience of taking classes at Peters Valley has really changed the trajectory of my career; it’s ultimately how I became introduced to metalsmithing. I started bringing metals and other materials into my wall pieces, which gradually led to creating jewelry that I brought the mixed media paintings into. I also took a machine knitting class, and have a small line of knitwear that I’ve sold at the Peters Valley during the holidays. I’ve taken other classes like carving wooden jewelry and fabricating serveware, but I really clicked with metalsmithing. Because of all of the skills I learned here, my practice has evolved and this foundation has helped me go on to exhibit in shows such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show, where I had the honor of being an award winner in 2016. I even found out about SNAG (the Society of North American Goldsmiths) through Peters Valley.

In my spare time, I’m still a practicing artist. I admit I have definitely prioritized my  administrative  career over my studio practice, which has limited some of my ability to do shows or have a lot of time to make work, but I’ve always been making. In fact, when I was house hunting a few years ago, my selection revolved around an adequate studio space; my studio is the largest room in the house, what should be a master bedroom. 

Q: What have been some of your favorite parts about your role at Peters Valley?

I’ve particularly enjoyed developing relationships with all of the artists through the gallery and craft fair, as well as the instructors and students that come through. I also enjoy connecting artists with one other. I love seeing someone come into the gallery as a shopper, and they’ll come back as a student or a craft fair exhibitor, or even become a board member. Bringing people in like that is really rewarding for me. 

People always ask me “How do you work here and not buy everything?” and I always tell them that I own one of everything. One of the perks of working in the gallery is that I get first dibs, so there are things that come in that people never see because I buy them [laughs]. But when I talk to gallery customers, I can be very authentic, because I actually live with so many handmade pieces, many that I’ve purchased through the gallery or at the craft fair.

I’ve learned so much about other types of crafts over the years, information that I’ve been able to share with employees and customers alike. Whether it’s about wood-fired ceramics or fiber techniques, I’ve learned so much just by talking to artists or listening to the Instructor Slide Presentations here. I can then go on to talk about it and help teach customers how different processes work. 

Q: What are your favorite exhibits in the Gallery since you’ve been here?

There have been so many really good ones. Domestic Matters: The Uncommon Apron show that Gail M. Brown curated was definitely one of the highest caliber shows that we’ve had. Wendy Haas, a fibers curator, also put together a really nice show of contemporary fiber in 2016. We’ve done some really nice juried exhibitions, such as Maker Moxie: The Impact of the Craft School Experience, also in 2016. We also had the exhibition, Nuance: Craftsmanship, Imagination, and Innovation, which was about ways in which artistic expression has merged with technology in contemporary craft. I was especially excited about that one because I do that in my own work, so it’s a theme that’s interesting to me. 

Q: In your role, you’ve had the opportunity to mentor many of the emerging artists who’ve come through as Studio Assistants or Artist Fellows. Can you speak to that a little bit?

I often help the Artist Fellows and Studio Assistants with professional development as it relates to selling and marketing their work. We talk about pricing, I show them how to photograph their work and edit their photos, and I can give them advice for selling at shows or in the gallery. Now, more than ever, artists need a bit of business acumen and professionalism, and you don’t always get that through a university program or being in workshops.

I also tell them to be a studio assistant or apprentice at least once! I worked for the ceramist Bennett Bean when I moved to this region after graduating from college and it was very informative.

I hope that I have been able to provide some of that for them, which I really have valued. I have also equipped gallery employees with the skills to shoot product photography, use Photoshop, or even just talk more about artwork and processes. 

I believe that supporting professional artists is really important. That’s why, as I’ve been working for the craft fair and the gallery, it’s my priority to advocate specifically for that group. If we can’t support professional artists, then the next generation isn’t going to become a professional artist because they don’t see any future in it.

Q: From your perspective as a Gallery Director, what do you think compels people to buy handmade?

Here at Peters Valley, people largely buy gifts. Giving something handmade is a really meaningful gesture and also helps people justify spending more on a quality item than shopping at a mass-produced store. Oftentimes people don’t allow themselves to make those kinds of purchases for themselves, as they should. But it gives people pride when they give a gift that was handmade. And they come here, because they know they are getting quality gifts.  

Q: Why do you think places like Peters Valley are important to the field?

People come in all the time and say, “I can’t make anything. I’m not an artist,” and I respond “Yes, you can! I bet if you took a workshop you would have a great experience.” And they do! Just allowing yourself to take class and not be self-conscious I think really helps people to see a different side of themselves that they don’t ever really get to see or experience. Plus, there’s something about that personal experience where you’re actually touching or making something that gives you a deeper connection to materials. There’s also a gratifying sense of accomplishment and pride.

Q: What has been your vision for the gallery retail store?

The thing that I’ve really tried to maintain is having a variety of price ranges while also ensuring quality. So, we have earrings that are $10 and earrings that are $500, but they’re all high quality. There are so many different types of artists, and some choose to make production work, and some choose to make higher-end work. One is not better than the other. There are all different kinds of people that we serve, and I’m proud that Peters Valley has such a diverse group of customers and that they can all find something here. It’s also important to make it welcoming; so I’ve been conscious not to give it that white-wall, can’t-touch-anything feeling; the space has a more homey Peters Valley feel, recognizing our location in the National Park.

Q: What are you going to miss about working at Peters Valley?

I have so many pieces that I’ve purchased at the Weekly Auctions that are made by the summer assistants or summer staff. They’re really special pieces because every time I use or see the piece, I remember the person who made it. I think about where they are now. Because I’m staying local, I will still be able to go to the summer auctions, but I won’t form that deeper connection with the summer artistic staff, and I am going to miss that.

Q: Tell us about your new role at SNAG.

I will be the director of SNAG, the Society of North American Goldsmiths, which is for jewelers, metalsmiths, designers, artists. It’s a great community and organization that has a particular interest in jewelry and metal arts. I’m really passionate about having a leadership role in the field of craft because I think it’s important to provide opportunities for the next generations of makers as well as cultivating collectors and figuring out how to keep the craft field’s vitality. 

Q: Closing thoughts?

Because I will be working remotely in my new job and can stay local to Peters Valley, I’m looking forward to staying as a part of the community. I plan to participate in events, public programs, and the Craft Fair, attend slides, and become a member.  I’m hoping to continue to visit campus often and see my friends when they come!

A note from Peters Valley Executive Director, Kristin Muller…

April 12, 2021

Dear Friends,

Help us create a bright future for Peters Valley with important technology investments!

We are eagerly looking forward to facilitating in-person creative experiences on campus this summer. Our staff and board have been working hard to develop plans and accommodations to facilitate safe immersive and interactive learning in our studios this year.

Technology will play a major part in our plan for reopening. Along with the mitigation practices of masks, hand hygiene, adequate spacing of work tables, and daily communal cleaning of surfaces, we have an immediate need to invest in technology to facilitate safer and intimate in-person studio instruction and to build capacity for our online programming.

In order to implement this plan, we must make several technology investments over the next several weeks. This will cost the school $20,000.

+ Video equipment & monitors will allow instructors to demonstrate and project detailed techniques, such as stone setting, without the need for students to gather up-close around their workbench, maintaining social distance

+ Daily wellness screenings can be conducted and filed with the office via tablets with students and instructors each morning prior to entering the studios

+ Those with hearing impairments will be able to hear instruction while maintaining a safe physical distance using assisted listening devices

+ Hotspots will allow for a series of online demonstrations to be produced by our Artist Fellows and Assistants in the Thunder Mountain studios

+ Instructor Slide Nights can be hosted in-person on campus with a projector and screens, while also live streamed at the same time to those at home

Can you help us fund these important investments? Today, we ask for your continued support with a gift to support these expenses that will allow us to re-gather again together on campus & make Peters Valley more accessible than ever.

With your investment, you are ensuring that Peters Valley remains a vital force in the craft field, a resource for emerging and established artists, and a safe place for you to explore your creativity among a community of other creative minds.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to campus during our workshop season this year and are grateful for your support to help us hit the ground running.  Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.

Gratefully,

Kristin Muller

Executive Director