Third In A Series

By Thea Jarvis

It is the season of simple gifts.

Though the retail stores would have it otherwise, more and more people are turning to the handcrafted, the low-keyed, the homemade and the kitchen-baked for their holiday giving.

We yearn to touch what we give, in a way that endows our offering with meaning beyond the lights and tinsel of the shopping malls.

In the now-chilly hills of north Georgia, there is a workshop that specializes in such simplicity. It is alive with light, life and the delightful spirit of the first Christmas.

“The Place,” brainchild of four Adrian Dominican sisters and haven for those seeking to break the bonds of southern Appalachian poverty, sits just off the main street in Cumming. It is green on the outside, warm on the inside, and a solace to the beleaguered buyer of Christmas remembrances.

It is here that one finds the hand-fashioned woodwork, bonnets, quilts, toys, rag rugs and wall hangings that make Christmas giving a joy. And it is here that a talented sister Nancyann Turner weaves her wonders – and teaches others to do the same.

“We try hard to honor the history of the art and celebrate that in creative expression,” says Sister Nancyann with enthusiasm. Her full-size loom sits by the front windows of the weaving room at “The Place,” resplendent with color and pattern. It brightens the often dreary north Georgia winterscape just outside.

“Mountain people need to be affirmed that they have gifts, that they have a contribution to make,” reflects the accomplished weaver, who holds a Masters in Art Education and presently comes to Atlanta once a week to study at the Chastain Arts Center.

But an artist’s proficiency will not go far without a deep, personal commitment to the people whom you serve, and it is Sister Nancyann’s warmth and openness that kindle the loyalty of those around her.

“We try to provide an environment where individual gifts can be affirmed and offer people a chance for success and esteem in their work,” she says, articulating the self-help philosophy that is the foundation for all the programs at “The Place.”

Such a philosophy lends meaning and dignity in the lives of mountain families who daily face the degradation of rural poverty. It is a philosophy that challenges the lack of education and transportation, the high unemployment, and the scarcity of bare necessities on their own ground.

“When people come for help, we try to support the total person. It’s not just a matter of giving them food, or money, or clothing,” says Sister Nancyann. “The goal of our art program is to meet individual needs. But we also try to market the things that our people make and help them earn money, too.”

In ministering to the mountain community in Cumming, Sister Nancyann has learned a few things herself.

“I went to Canton one day to learn how to make rope. It was a considerable trip. When I returned,” she smiles, “Ruby and Emmy (friends at “The Place”) laughed at me because I had traveled all that way. They told me I could have learned to make rope right here!”

Sister Nancyann has extended her involvement by actively participating in state and local arts groups. She is vice-president of the Mount Yonah Weaving Guild of North Georgia, a charter member of the Forsyth County Art Association, and a director on the board of the Georgia Mountain Crafts Association.

One of Sister’s current goals is the part-time study of art therapy, a relatively new field which, she feels, will lend itself to her mountain ministry

“I feel good about the choices I’ve made as a woman and as an artist,” she reflects. “Religious life didn’t snuff out my creativity or sexuality. It enchanted life as a growing within yourself and a sharing in the life of others.”

And that, indeed, is the simple gift of Christmas – a sharing in others’ lives because of Him who shared his life with us.

To reach “The Place,” take Highway 400 to the Bald Ridge Marina exit. Turn left and follow the road as it curves right towards town about ¼ mile. “The Place” is on the left-hand side and is classed on Thursdays. (Phone 1-404-887-1098).