Penland School of Crafts 27th Annual Benefit Auction
August 10-11, 2012
Here's the next in an ongoing series of Penland Benefit Auction newsletters, featuring artists whose work will be a part of this year's auction. We have invited trustees, staff members, collectors and friends to write about pieces that will be included in the summer 2012 benefit event and to comment on living with the works they have purchased in past auctions.
A few words about auction artist Deborah Horrell...
 "The vessel is a primary form and figure. Compositions refer to the still life tradition as much as to surrealism. Giorgio Morandi's manipulations of form in space influence my awareness as does DeChirico's disparate inhabitants within skewed landscapes.
Human interaction informs posture and position in my tableaux. The structure of family - couples, siblings, being part and apart, determines placement and the consequent dialogue. Figures write their own stories as their character evolves.
Glass plays a significant role in the life of these entities. The making of the vessels with glass in the pāte de verre and cast methods promote an exploration of pointillist color, transmission of light and transformation of particulates."
- Deborah Horrell
Deborah Horrell received her MFA from the University of Washington in 1979. After working as a ceramist for many years, she participated in the Pilchuck Glass School's visiting artist program in 1994. A residency at the Bullseye Glass Factory in 1996 permanently changed the trajectory of her career. Deborah has exhibited both ceramics and glass in museums and galleries throughout the country, and has work in many public and private collections.
We asked Deborah's friend (they will teach a class together at Penland this summer), the artist Tom Spleth, to share his thoughts about Vessel Harmonies, the series of glass objects (55-1/2 x 61 x 3 in.) that she has contributed to this year's auction:
"Deborah Horrell is a prolific artist who makes objects of delicacy and precision. In a chaotic world of conflict and anger, she presents closely observed and carefully articulated objects and drawings that have an almost stubborn presence. They claim territory and assert, whether they be a small colorful monochromatic translucent glass container or an image of a bird's skull, that these are the things that really sustain us when all else fails. And that those things that destroy life shall not pass. Her works have an aggressive quality that pushes back the forces of entropy and dissolution. They provide a blessed assurance, a place where all our lonely striving is encouraged and protected. Her ambition has never been for money or fame and recognition but, rather, she strives to enter the rushing fray armed only with honesty and compassion. As a teacher, she has considerable impact because her words issue from the same deep desire to remain quick and agile in the face of The Big Mess, out in the dark. As a mentor, she elevates the vision of her students, raises the stakes, and shows them that the art they make is the most important lifetime levy they can build. As engaging casual and humorous as she can be when presenting before a class, one is always reminded, with a quick look or a decisive, dead serious comment, that what we are about here saves the world. She stubbornly refuses to see it any other way. Plus, and this is really, really important, it's all for sale." - Tom Spleth
________________________________________________________ Join us... Auction Weekend Tickets $375 Includes all Friday and Saturday activities Friday, August 10
Friday-only tickets $200 Cocktail party, exhibition preview and silent auction, dinner, live auction, dessert party, live music, and dancing Saturday, August 11 Saturday only tickets $250 Coffee at the studios with Penland's resident artists, silent auction, lunch, live auction, and a reception at the Penland Gallery The Penland School of Crafts Annual Benefit Auction is a gala weekend in the North Carolina mountains featuring the sale of more than 240 works in books, clay, drawing, glass, iron, letterpress, metals, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, and wood. The Penland auction is one of the most important craft collecting events in the Southeast and a perfect opportunity to support Penland's educational programs, which have helped thousands of people live creative lives.
An illustrated auction catalog and online preview will be available in July.
Absentee bids are accepted with a $25 bidder fee. All proceeds benefit Penland School of Crafts. Penland School is located 52 miles northeast of Asheville, NC.
_______________________________________________________ Quick Links Penland Website Penland Blog Classes Support for Penland Art for Penland Facebook YouTube Pinterest Penland School of Crafts is a national center for craft education dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Located in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Penland offers workshops, artist residencies, a gallery, and community collaboration programs. Penland School is a nonprofit, tax-exempt institution that receives support for its programs from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
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