Woolard-caroline-oxtales-mar2019
OS4

Caroline Woolard

03/27/19

Caroline Woolard was selected by Moore College of Art & Design as the first recipient of the Jane and David Walentas Endowed Fellowship. The prestigious annual fellowship underscores Moore’s ongoing commitment to social engagement by offering opportunities to thoughtful artists who bring their vision for the future of cultural production to the Moore community and the larger artistic community of Philadelphia.

"As the Walentas Endowed Distinguished Fellow, Woolard will create sculptural objects for worker-owned businesses and self-organized groups, including a clock that relies upon water to mark intervals of time. Her project asks the questions: "Can an object interrupt the unavoidable antagonisms of working together? How do workers without bosses (i.e. worker-owners in cooperative businesses) transform workplace conflict?" Woolard will make, with the support of Moore studio technicians, sculptural objects that are meant to act as tools to facilitate difficult conversations about structural and interpersonal inequity. These objects will migrate throughout Moore and become a central part of the Free Library’s new Robert and Eileen Kennedy Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement, where they can be checked out to support the work of other community organizations around the city, including the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives." Read full press release.

Caroline has served on The Oxbow School Board of Trustees since July 2018.
carolinewoolard.com

I have learned so many skills and habits that have made me a better person throughout my time here. To name a few: I have learned how to be a good roommate, how to communicate, and how to trust myself. I have learned the importance of staying hydrated, getting good sleep, and having a clean work space. I have learned how to share space both in the studios and dorms. Lastly, I have learned that it’s okay to advocate for what you need and that there is no harm in asking for help or support.

— Grace Reynolds, Fall 2023

Oxbow opened me up to what was out there in the world to go out and grab, and gave me so much that I take with me everywhere I go, with everything I do.

— Nina Palomba, Spring 2008

It's been a whirlwind week, but also a time when I sang the praises of Oxbow to my colleagues. I've been thinking much about how Oxbow is an exemplar of true education. That art centers the curriculum is hardly surprising, and for those of us who work within the traditional educational mold Oxbow offers a gold standard of focused project based learning. Beyond the school's approach to immersive experience are the intangibles which make Oxbow different. The sense of community and of working together, even as each student retained their strong individual presence is palpable. The feeling of warmth and trust between the adults and the nearly adults in the Oxbow community could be felt throughout the campus. The openness of the architecture and interconnectedness of the three studios in themselves speak of the Oxbow philosophy and identity. More than form follows function, the physical attributes of Oxbow have a distinct warmth and invite exploration.

I'm sure that the ongoing challenges of leading and reinventing your school might sometimes keep you from having the time to see Oxbow with the fresh eyes of a visitor, but your steady presence and vision are really visible in every detail. Thank you for inviting me to one of the most profound experiences in my career.

— Ken Rush, Visual Arts Department, Packer Collegiate Institute

A School Like No Other

Apply