‘Pentwater Artisan Learning Center – Equipping for the Next 20 Years’ campaign fund kicks off

Barry Freed shows Harry Brodbeck (both of Pentwater) an assortment of his hand-carved, wooden bowls.

‘Pentwater Artisan Learning Center – Equipping for the Next 20 Years’ campaign fund kicks off

By Ron Beeber, Contributing Writer

PENTWATER — After celebrating its first 20 years of providing a well-equipped space for area residents to utilize their handiwork skills and teach others who want to learn, the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center is readying itself for the next 20 years. Since 2002, PALC members have completed a great many projects for personal use or donation. And numerous community projects in Pentwater and the surrounding area have benefitted from their collective volunteer efforts.

Roger Wills of Ludington is shown with a gorilla that he’s spent 60 hours so far hand-carving from a block of basswood. Next, he will paint it, guided by the color photos and drawings.

Members recently gathered at the center to learn the results of an inspection of the center’s impressive inventory of equipment. This includes woodworking lathes, planes, sanders, saws, routers, and edgers; metalworking milling machines, presses, cutting tools, and welding; glassmaking kilns, cutters, and soldering irons; paint spray booths, brushes, paints, canvas, and varnish; pottery spin tools, turning tables, and kilns; and weaving looms, needles, and combs.

They were told that the center has just created the “Pentwater Artisan Learning Center – Equipping for the Next 20 Years Campaign Fund” at the Community Foundation for Oceana County, where donations can be made to refresh, update, or replace the Artisan Center’s working assets.  The overall campaign goal is $250,000, with the first $125,000 being used to correct equipment that’s the most outdated, non-working, unsafe, or unrepairable.  The 501 c 3 PALC welcomes tax deductible donations, bequeaths, endowments, and corporate matching gifts. More information can be found at https://oceanafoundation.org/give/our-funds.

The PALC is an 11,000-square-foot, well-equipped workspace for metal and woodworking, painting, pottery, glassmaking, crafts, weaving, basket making, sewing and more. Its members from Pentwater and the surrounding area work in a safe environment where they create, socialize, learn, and share their knowledge with others who want to learn new crafts. It’s located next to Pentwater Public School. The annual cost of membership is $150. More information is found at https://pentwaterartisan.org/, or call 231.869.5323.

Jeff Elhart is shown briefing the audience.  He’s the son of Barb Davidson, widow of the late Gene Davidson, who founded the PALC in 2012.