Angela Eastman – Olives Porch Artist in Resident

In September 2023, Angela Eastman began her Artist in Residence placement with Olive’s Porch, the Folk School’s downtown Murphy location. The four-month residency focused on furthering Appalachian craft and centering community engagement, including the AIM program. Starting in October, Angela guided her students through processing kudzu and making baskets, embroidering and block printing textiles, and other projects in drawing and clay. “My practice is pretty broad, and I wanted to bring variety into the classroom,” she says. “It was wonderful to have the kids reflect on things they’ve seen in their own homes, like sewing, and realize that it’s also art.”

Allie Dudley started their session in February 2024 and invited students to connect with nature while developing their artistic talent. Projects included knitting, weaving, dyeing, and a collective quilt. Many of Allie’s students had weaving experience and the project was a favorite. “They were really focused and most of them wove enough to have a scarf.” When it came to dyeing, Allie emphasized accessibility and safe materials. “We used a lot of natural stuff – avocado peels, onion skins, flowers from the Folk School garden, and even sawdust. We ended up with really pretty patterns.”

Both instructors saw incredible benefits for their students. “Some schools no longer have an arts program,” Allie says. “Giving them that time is a big deal. Some of the kids want to come to Little Middle now.”

Angela echoes those reflections. “Having the program and a generous budget for materials allowed so much freedom. The kids were able to make things without worrying about the resources.”

Allie Dudley – Folk School Studio Coordinator

The success of both AIM sessions was due in large part to Wendy Alexander, who (unknowingly) initiated the partnership. “I had an incredible artist in my class, and I knew that someone outside of these mountains needed to see her work,” Wendy says. “I sent it to the director of the North Carolina Arts Council. They put me in touch with the NC Museum of Art, where I connected with Angela Lombardi, the Director of Outreach & Audience Engagement, who told me about AIM.”

While Wendy continues her advocacy for the arts, she is also witnessing the effects AIM had on her students. “They had access to professional artists and saw what it was like to live an artist’s life. They also spent time at Olive’s Porch learning how to sew and at the Folk School sharing their work. It’s given them the opportunity to discover new skills that they’re still using now.”

Future sessions already have waitlists. “We have a lot of students who want to take part in the program, even some who want to do it a second time,” she says. “We make sure new students get priority, so everyone has a fair chance. It’s so important for these kids to have exposure to the arts.”

The folks behind AIM know that well. Alongside the six-week sessions, they have expanded their support for arts education by donating 20 Little Middle scholarships to the Folk School. This special offering provides local youth with a week of hands-on creativity, and these scholarships will cover tuition, meals, and transportation for rising 6th to 9th graders from Cherokee and Clay Counties.

Much like the generosity that provided Murphy Middle School students with the opportunity to explore their creative side, the generosity of donors helps us provide Little Middle opportunities for young folks who might not otherwise be able to attend. Whether it’s in the classroom or one of our studios, support matters. So does art. If you are interested in providing that support for our youth art programs, give us a call or email giving@folkschool.org.