Nancy Fuhrman

BY BRUCE A. COLLEY, DO

Iwas fortunate to spend some time with Nancy Fuhrman, our featured artist for the winter issue, at her home and studio recently. Although I knew Nancy was an artist, I never appreciated her breadth of art interest and her level of accomplishment. She was, when we first met about 20 years ago, the principal of my children’s elementary school. With her retirement from education some years ago she has been able to concentrate on her art full-time and thus I have been made aware of her emerging presence in the Chester County art community.

Nancy was born and raised on a Lancaster County farm. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Art Education. After teaching for many years Nancy received her PhD. in Education, eventually finding her way to Downingtown to be the Principal at East Ward Elementary School. As noted in her Artist Statement, her predilection for art was kindled by her elementary school art teacher who was, I suspect, also a model for Nancy’s career as an educator. “She freed my boundaries and affirmed my creative spirit.” A mistake, I believe, that is common to parents and in school settings is when we try to make our children into something, rather than shepherding them to make something of themselves. Buckminster Fuller, the 20th century polymath, famously wrote, “All children are born geniuses, then are quickly de-geniused. I was simply lucky to have escaped the typical indoctrination.” N.C. Wyeth and his wife Carolyn are widely known to have provided a learning environment that was akin to Mrs. Kauffman’s approach, to their clan. We see their results: three artists, a renowned musician and a scientist.

Nancy has also studied at, to name but a few, the Southwest School of the Arts, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, West Chester University, Wayne Art Center, and the John Campbell Folk School. She is an accomplished artist in a variety of media including painting with watercolor, acrylic, and oil; clay, etching and fiber art. Nancy’s art has been featured in galleries and shows throughout the East Coast. Please take time to enjoy the small sampling of her art in this issue. Thank you, Nancy, what talent, what joy you share. The lucky children of Chester County to whom you were teacher, principal and advocate and who are so precious to you, they thank you! Forever.

The Art of Chester County continued from page 17

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