1 2 t h a n n ua l w i l l ’ s g i f t
The “Warped Weaver” LaVerne Kemp W
ill’s Gift is named in honor of E. William Turley ’64, one of the finest educators in Kiski’s history. Although he was not an artist himself in any traditional sense of the word, his 35 years on the campus could be called nothing but a masterpiece. His devotion to his students knew no bounds and he inspired many of them to be, if not artists, then whole and true versions of themselves. His gift was his passion for inquiry, for truth, and for the guts to accept the price of such a pursuit— attributes without which no fine artist can succeed. His gift was this kind of bravery and he gave of it every day. On behalf of The Kiski School, Will’s Gift is given annually to an artist working in Western Pennsylvania. The goal is to assist with the continued health of Pittsburgh’s creative community and to increase and develop Kiski’s strong collection in the visual arts. The hope is that the campus itself will become an archive and teaching center, a living and virtual gallery of the region’s finest work. “If enough small fires can light an entire community, let Will’s Gift be the fuel for one of them,” said David Conrad ’85, co underwriter of Will’s Gift along with Kristofer Rockwell ’90. LaVerne Kemp was named as the th 12 annual Will’s Gift Award recipient by David Conrad during the 2020 Virtual Honors Convocation Ceremony. Ms. Kemp is known as “The Warped Weaver” for her intricate and creative
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designs using many different processes including the use of handmade manual looms, batik, stumping, dyeing, and beading. The Wilkinsburg, Pa. resident has been working in the community for over 30 years. Mr. Conrad highlighted her broad spectrum of students. Ms. Kemp has made weaving accessible to little children, library classes, grown men, and immigrant mothers who couldn’t speak a word of English but were able to communicate through their work. She has taught at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and at the Winchester Thurston School. Ms. Kemp is a member of the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and was recently appointed the President of Women of Visions, an African American women’s art collective. Her works can be found at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Patricia Boutique, and The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh.
2020 Will's Gift Award recipient LaVerne Kemp and a sampling of her intricate works.
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