is nestled on a mountaintop about fifteen minutes outside of Spruce Pine, NC,
a bit over an hour from Asheville. It's a school, yes, but it's also a retreat
from the outside world -- no TV, only a handful of pay phones (with lots of competition
at mealtimes), a single computer in the coffee shop, and no fax machines or beepers
to deal with (nirvana!). Instead, you immerse yourself in your chosen craft for
a week or two during the summer, or four or eight weeks during the spring or fall
(I wish!), often stopping only to eat (the food is wonderful!) or sleep. Penland
offers classes in weaving, surface design, glassblowing, lampworking, ceramics,
woodworking, photography, drawing, bookbinding, printing, metalwork, jewelry,
and various other special courses.
I have been there a number of times:
My real dream, though, is to take one of the Fall or Spring Concentration classes one day, four or eight weeks focusing on what I love best.