TOP PHOTO: Local Jacksboro woodworker John Polly is teaching students how to make wooden spatulas at this week’s Art Reach Program taking place at the former West End School/La Follette Community Center.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Fourth and fifth graders from LaFollette Elementary School benefited from a grant program through the Arrowmont Arts and Crafts School out of Gatlinburg on Wednesday.  Students from Wynn Habersham participated in the program on Thursday while White Oak students will take part in the program on Friday. The Art Reach Program is an art outreach hosted by Arrowmont School and funded through a grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. 

The art outreach program had five Arts and Crafts classes going on at the Community Center in LaFollette on Wednesday. There were more classes from 9am to 2pm on Thursday for Wynn Habersham students, and Friday as well, for students from White Oak School.

Students got to participate in classes making embroidery art projects, needle felt birds, paper marbling, clay working and woodworking.

“We have mostly local artisans teaching the students,” said Artreach program manager Katie Sharpe.

Local Jacksboro woodworker John Polly taught students how to make wooden spatulas. 

“It’s great to pass these skills on to future generations and great of Arrowmont to bring this program to students here in Campbell County,” Polly said.

Arrowmont has been doing its art program in schools in Sevier County for 26 years and in 2019 received a grant to start the “on the road” art outreach program. This is the second time they have hosted the program here in Campbell County. 

Clay instructor Hannah Zechman worked at the West End Community Center on Wednesday as part of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts outreach program.

The program is on a two year rotation, and Arrowmont will be back in Campbell County in 2025.

According to Art Reach Program Manager Katie Sharpe, the focus of the program is to pass on Appalachian Art practices and showcase Appalachian roots. Arrowmont has outreach art programs all across Appalachia in Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia and Ohio.

“Arrowmont is steeped in Appalachian craft. We started as part of the settlement School in Gatlinburg and we’ve continued to grow. We travel all across Appalachia with this program,” Sharpe said. 

The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is visiting LaFollette’s West End Community Center this week hosting several art classes for fourth and fifth graders from LaFollette Elementary School. Students participated in clay pottery, needle felting, paper marbling, embroidery and wooden spatula making.

The grant covers the entire cost of the classes for students, including supplies, bussing the kids to and from the community center and even covering a sub for teachers if needed.

She said they were excited to be able to offer these classes to children throughout Appalachia.

“For some of these kids, it’s the only field trip they get and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to participate,” Sharpe said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/20/2023-6AM)

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