AJ Maldonado (left) helps out in the metals studio

In February, Appalachian State Art alumni, students and faculty volunteered at Penland School of Craft’s annual Community Open House. The Community Open House is an annual event that opens the doors to Penland’s studios to more than 500 adults and children from Mitchell County and beyond, engaging them in free, quality hands-on studio experiences. The Community Open House also offers information about Penland’s upcoming workshops and other programs. Penland welcomed 550 adults and children to participate in the day’s activities.

Volunteers from Penland and Appalachian

Each year, over 100 artist volunteers from the surrounding community make this day possible by helping visitors with the hands-on activities in the studios. This year 15 of the 110 volunteers were either faculty, students, or alumni of Appalachian State’s Art Department. 

This year’s volunteers from Appalachian were:

Metals

• Lainey Everly
• Frankie Flood
• Ali King
• AJ Maldonado
• Michael Richardson
• Elizabeth Walton

Photo

• Greg Banks
• Shauna Caldwell
• Dominique Richardson
• Corn Wagon Thunder

Print

• Jesse Ponce
• Manuel Tavares
• Justin Yang

Textiles

• Simone Levine

Wood

• Justin Angel