Welcome Class of 2014

As we begin our sixth year of instruction, let’s all welcome the Class of 2014 to America’s only college dedicated to educating artisans.  Our freshman class joins a student body distinguished for their talent and craftsmanship and already playing a role in restoring and building at numerous sites of celebrated American architecture.  Just this summer, our internship program placed students across the country, working on joinery in the Hudson Valley, repairing ornamental plaster ceilings at the University of Virginia, masonry at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, and restoring antique boats in New York. 

There are a lot of new members of the team here at ACBA this fall.  Please join me in welcoming them as we all work to build the College and renew our commitment to “educating artisans” for the built environment here in Charleston and across the country.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Colby M. Broadwater, III, President  
 

Drayton Hall Project, Becca Walton

During the fall semester, students from the American College of Building Arts plaster working trade major will work on a project entitled Reinterpretation of the Lost Drayton Great Hall Ceiling circa 1845.  Through historical research, on-site documentation, and the practice of their building arts craft, students will recreate an ornamental ceiling of Drayton Hall’s Great Hall. 

Drayton Hall is a highly significant structure, considered to be one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the country.  The home, built in 1742, has withstood wars, earthquakes, and hurricanes and is open today as a monument to the sustainability of historic construction.  Drayton Hall is one of the Lowcountry’s most visited tourism sites, with over 55,000 guests per year, 10,000 of whom are schoolchildren. ACBA is excited to collaborate with the National Trust’s Drayton Hall, an important community partner and an unparalleled site for the study of historic architecture.

During the 2008-2009 school year, ACBA students recreated the third ceiling installed in the Great Hall, the ceiling visitors view today when visiting the home. The 2010-2011 project will recreate the second ceiling installed circa 1800. Students will work from an 1845 drawing by Louis Reeve Gibbes, the only surviving evidence of the ceiling’s design.  The second ceiling, with its urns, garlands, and swags, reflected the Federalist influence in architecture in the mid 19^th century, a style popular in Charleston at the time.

The proposed project has five key elements: research and documentation, drawing and drafting, sculpting and refining, casting and production, and installation and painting.   By recreating the ceiling, ACBA hopes to illustrate the beauty of historic architecture, the necessity for skilled artisans in preservation, the artistic integrity inherent in craftsmanship, and the talent of ACBA-trained artisans.

More about the Drayton Hall Plaster Project in the September Issue…
 

Student/Alumni Updates

Emily Gillett, Class of 2012

Emily Gillett interned in Decatur, AL for the United Launch Alliance, a company providing reliable,
cost-efficient space launch services for the U.S. government.

During Emily’s internship she and her team stuccoed a new conference center for the United Launch Alliance.  They first had to prepare the wall by putting Tyvek paper, a moisture and weather barrier, on top of an exterior sheething.  Next, they placed tar paper on top of the Tyvek paper to ensure that the building was safe from any water or weather damage.  Emily and her team then put expansion joints in intervals around the building to allow the stucco to expand and contract.  For the final step they lathed the building with wire mesh and tied the overlapping pieces with tie wire.

Ian Hardy, Class of 2010

 

After graduation Ian founded the company Notch & Nail, and has worked on many projects throughout the Lowcountry; including the design and construction of the new "authentic" pillory for Charleston Magazine downtown.  On another project, he worked in conjunction with an iron student tocreate a custom wooden and iron garden gate in the Old Village in Mount Pleasant.  He also restored a Charleston home fireplace threshold, staircase and several Charleston doors,
designed and built a custom built-in for a client in Mount Pleasant, and is currently
working on an eco-friendly Ipe exterior custom full size bar.  For more information about Notch & Nail please visit www.notchandnail.com.

 Forged Architectural Iron Working

Richard G. Guthrie, Professor of Forged Architectural Iron Work

Richard G. Guthrie joined ABCA this fall as a new Professor of Forged Architectural Ironwork. He brings 35 years of experience as a blacksmith, a trade he first became interested in while working in a museum fresh out of college. Originally from South Florida, he has spent much of his career working in Colonial Williamsburg. Richard will be working to continue the curriculum’s focus on architectural work, and will also share his expertise in crafting 17^th-19^th century hardware and hardware-dating methods. Richard is excited to live and work in town and admires the unique style of Charleston ironwork.    

Guthrie has many plans for his new students this semester.  The iron workshop will reproduce and install the period decorative handrail for the 2nd floor landing of the Charleston Jail as well as the 2nd and 3rd floor Jail steps.  These projects will allow students to study 19th century architecture and constuction.

Aislinn Lewis Uses Fire As Her Paintbrush
By Erica Jackson
Charleston City Paper

Congratulations to Aislinn Lewis, Third Year Forged Architectural Ironwork, on being included among the Charleston City Paper's "Ones to Watch" this year! 

Click here to read the full article!
 

Staff Updates

Jay Waddell, Chief of Staff/Director of Operations

James “Jay” M. Waddell brings 27 years of consulting, training, and business experience to the American College of the Building Arts. A graduate of the Citadel, he returned years later as a Tactical Officer and teacher, and he studied for his MBA before going into manufacturing. Jay is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with 23 years of service. 

During his three decades in manufacturing he has been responsible for manufacturing management, sales and new product development with most of it in the heavy-gauge plastic thermoforming arena at a company that was one of the fastest growing in the nation. Jay Waddell is respected as a trainer/teacher and consultant who is an expert in plastic materials, product development, and manufacturing techniques. He has consulting clients in the United Kingdom, People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Mexico, Australia and Canada as well as the United States.

Jay was a founding member of the Lowcountry Manufacturers Council and the Lowcountry Workmen’s Comp Board. He is also a Senior Member of Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) where he has been a member of the national Board of Directors for the Thermoforming Division for the past 25 years. Six years ago he co-founded a start-up manufacturing and wholesale company and oversaw its expansion of sales into 18 countries before it was purchased by a California manufacturer last year.

Becca Walton, Grant Writer

Becca Walton joined the ACBA staff as Grant Writer in July.  Becca, a native of East Tennessee, received her undergraduate education in history and American Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master’s in American Studies from the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture.  Research interests included 20^th century American cultural history and literature of the US South and South Africa. Publications include book reviews in The Georgia Historical Quarterly and The Southern Register, and multiple entries in the forthcoming Mississippi Encyclopedia. She has extensive experience in nonprofit/arts management, working for the Charlottesville and Charleston Symphonies, at the historic home of William Faulkner, on staff at the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, as orchestra manager for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and as Development Coordinator for the Georgia Historical Society. Most recently Becca served on the artistic production staff of the Charleston Symphony. Becca is so excited to support ACBA’s mission, students, and faculty!

Peg Eastman, Resources Development

Peg Eastman joined the ACBA staff as Resources Development in July.  She has 30 years of experience in interviewing, writing, and editing for businesses such as non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and a Member of Congress.  She worked forDuPont before co-founding Knowledge Technologies, a consulting firm specializing in knowledge management systems designed according to the DuPont Learning Resources model. 

During her time spent at DuPont, Peg collaborated with Senior Designer on DuPont Corporate Art Program to catalog and preserved their extensive collection of Brandywine River art.

Peg has renovated two National Historic Register houses in Wilmington, Delaware.  She was elected Mu Beta Honor Society, New Mexico State University and Who’s Who in America in 1996.  She enjoys writing, lecturing, restoring old houses, gardening, cooking, interior decorating, and networking.

Peg has co-authored and written for many publications including Certifying Workers Skills in the Chemical Industry , Mendel and Me, Life with Congressman L. Mendel Rivers (The Serviceman’s Best Friend) (2007), Remembering Old Charleson - A Peek Behind Parlor Doors (2008) and Hidden History of Old Charleston (2010) All published by History Press, Charleston, SC. She received her BA in English from Wayne State University.

Anthony Olalere , Volunteer Coordinator

Anthony Olalere is the coordinator of the Volunteer program at the American College of the Building Arts. He is presently working on his PhD at the Clemson University in Educational Leadership.

Encouraging Volunteerism in Colleges, Anthony Olalere

There is an increasing global awareness and recognition of the economic and social value of volunteerism. Volunteers are a valuable and necessary human resource for many organizations. While volunteers do not carry employee status in the organization, they provide a combination of skill, knowledge and adventure. People volunteer for various reasons: they want to give back, learn, grow and experience new things. The best volunteers are adventurers, people willing to challenge themselves in order to enrich their own lives and those of others.

Volunteering is empowering to the individuals, giving them the confidence and skills to
change their environment. Through volunteering your knowledge and skills are honed and
enhanced while teaching others. ACBA has opportunities for volunteers in a variety of different areas, including building and ground maintenance; the Development Office; the Admissions Office; Finance and Operations Department; Offices of the President, Provost, and Dean; and in the library.

Find out more about how to volunteer with ACBA by visiting our website www.buildingartscollege.us 

Upcoming Events!

"OPEN"
Presented by: The Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts
September 11, 2010, Memminger Auditorium, 10am - 3pm
For more information visit www.artscharleston.org/index.html.

OPEN kicks off Charleston’s Fall season as a multi-disciplinary arts event, open
to the public, featuring an abundance of artistic and cultural offerings in the tri-county area.
Come visit ACBA during “OPEN” and experience our students in action as they demonstrate
their building arts trade majors of Architectural Stone, Carpentry, Forged Architectural Iron Working, Preservation Masonry, Plaster Working and Timber Framing.

Charleston Farmer's Market
September 18 & October 23, Marion Square, 10am - 3pm
Come out and show your support for ACBA!

"REDy to Wear" Benefit and Silent Auction
October 6, 2010, Rebekah Jacob Gallery, 6pm - 9pm
For more information visit www.RebekahJacobGallery.com

The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) will host its annual
“Redy to Wear” party to celebrate the unveiling of masks by local Charleston artists.
“Redy to Wear” pays tribute to Charleston’s visual art scene, as well as raising funds for ACBA.  Guests can bid on their favorite mask(s), starting at $100, a process that will start at 6pm and continue until 8pm.  The event is free and open to the public. The highest bidders are encouraged to wear their masks to The RED Party. 

Notable Charleston artists have created masks within their artistic styles, using
traditional materials like feathers, beads, and ribbons, as well as non-traditional materials
like sweet grass and metal from a chicken coop.  Participating artists include: Lisa Shimko,
Sarah Haynes, William Bates, Anne Darby Parker, Jeff Kopish, Leigh Magar, Johnny Tucker, Hirona Matsuda, Kristi Ryba, Timothy Pakron, Benjamin Hollingsworth and Kenton James. Most artists will be present at the event.  For a complete list of artists visit www.buildingartscollege.us.

The RED Party
October 28, 2010, Old Charleston Jail, 7pm - 10pm
For more information visit www.buildingartscollege.us

CHARLESTON, SC- The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) invites you to Charleston’s Historic District to serve time at the Old Charleston Jail on
Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.  

The event will host a silent auction including incredible luxury trips, exciting adventures and items crafted by the students of ACBA!  DJ Arthur Brouthers will have the crowd dancing to
beats while guests enjoy an open bar and succulent treats.
Come dressed in red and mask your face!  

Sponsors for the event include: PDA, Stylee PR & Marketing, Sunshine House, Carr Properties, Bulldog Tours, Rebekah Jacob Gallery and Tim Banks Creative. 

Tickets are $55.00 in advance and $65.00 at the door.  To purchase tickets please call
843-577-5245 or visit our website at www.buildingartscollege.us.

Be a Red Party Sponsor!!!

The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) invites you to be a Red Party Sponsor.  Red Party Sponsors recieve great benefits such as complimentary tickets to the event, premier banner display space at the event, logo/name recognition on promotional materials, and acknowledgement on the ACBA website and newsletter! 

Find out how you can be a sponsor of this popular event by contacting Brittany Wallace of the ACBA Development Office at 843.266.7847.

The Red Party raises awareness for ACBA's mission. All proceeds from
the event will help support the education of ACBA’s students.   
 
Open House Events

October 30, 2010
January 15, 2011
February 19, 2011
March 19, 2011
April 9, 2011

Prospective students are invited to attend an Open House event.  Each event is
from 8:30 a.m.  to 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday morning.  During the Open House, prospective students will tour the workshops and classrooms at the College’s Old City Jail Campus
in historic downtown Charleston, and enjoy lunch in the Jail courtyard. 
Advance reservations are required.  For reservations and further information,
please contact the Admissions office at 877.283.5245.

 How Can You Support ACBA?

Making a recurring donation is the easiest way to give and ensure your
favorite projects receive ongoing support.  

Recurring donations make it easy to support ACBA and helps us achieve our funding
goals over time.  You can quickly create a monthly recurring donation online by clicking on the “Donate Now” button from our home page or access it from the “Donate Now Button” below.