View this email in your browser Chinese watercolor by Amber MacLean, Pond Farm Artist in Residence, May 2023 Pond Farm Pottery Designated as National Historic Landmark December 15, 2023 Dear Stewards, I'm excited to share that earlier this week, Pond Farm Pottery joined a select group of noteworthy places that possess exceptional value in illustrating the history of the United States. On December 13th, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland designated Pond Farm Pottery among 16 new National Historic Landmarks that reflect the importance of America's rich history.  “The new National Historic and Natural Landmarks designated today further the Interior Department’s vision for inclusive and collaborative conservation,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Supporting voluntary and locally led stewardship is key to nationwide efforts to conserve and connect the lands upon which we all depend.”   “It’s important that the places we deem nationally significant represent the historical and natural diversity of the American experience,” said Chuck Sams, Director of the National Park Service.  Pond Farm, located just above Armstrong Redwoods in Austin Creek State Recreation Area, was nominated for this distinction as it represents the life, work, and personal philosophy of Marguerite Wildenhain, whom contributed significantly to the American Studio Pottery Movement bringing her Bauhaus influenced pedagogy to the United States. She trained three generations of potters in a way of life, bridging art and nature and form. Many of her students have become accomplished in their own right and carry on Marguerite's legacy today.  Pond Farm is cooperatively managed by Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and California State Parks, with Stewards providing onsite support and programming including an artist-in-residence program and docent-led tours. Locally, Pond Farm is now the 6th National Historic Landmark in Sonoma County. This important distinction also makes us eligible to apply for a Save America's Treasures Grant which requires a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match which we hope to secure from private donations. Read more below to learn how to donate to Pond Farm, visit and view the work of Marguerite Wildenhain, and see what we've been up to in 2023.  Sincerely yours,  Justin Lindenberg Executive Director Donate Today to Support Pond Farm Pottery As a site that's mainly supported by grassroots volunteers, community support is critical for Pond Farm Pottery. Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods is directing efforts to transform the site from a state of arrested decay to a flourishing arts and cultural hub.  Our primary goals for Pond Farm include: Elevate awareness of the site's significance; Build community around Pond Farm to support it; and Activate and utilize the space so it's loved and cared for.  With your support today, we can start building our "war chest" towards a federal match and begin implementing projects to transform the site. We invite you to join us by making a donation to make possible our priorities for 2024: Bring filmmaker David Washburn’s documentary Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm to a national audience. With over 44K views online and 3K views through local public television - in January our hired station relations consultant will begin reaching out to public television stations nationally to screen the film in March for Women's History Month and in May for Jewish Heritage Month. Share Marguerite's art at the Santa Rosa Junior College at an exhibit we're planning for February (more info below), and develop plans for an exhibit on Marguerite and Pond Farm in the Visitor center at Armstrong Redwoods Focus the artist-in-residence program on historically marginalized communities and professionalize the program with support positions. Improve on-site conditions in the guest house and increase the amount of usable space in the studio to host artist workshops. Expand our docent-led tours and develop a technological-driven offering for visitors to experience the site (audio tour). Make improvement to the site through community workdays and begin restoring the historic landscape and gardens that were present. Your donation is crucial to accomplishing our work in 2024, and we depend on your support to fulfill our vision and goals for Pond Farm. We thank you for considering a year-end gift today.  And please, come visit!      Donate to Pond Farm by selecting the designation - "I want my gift to be designated towards: Pond Farm Pottery" in the drop down box. DONATE NOW Save the Date! Exhibit and Film Screening On February 8th from 4-6 pm, we will host a Margurite Wildenhain exhibit opening at the Agrella Art Gallery at the Santa Rosa Junior College. Following the opening we will be screening the documentary: Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm in the Newman Auditorium followed by a Q&A with Pond Farm students. More info will be available soon. Please save the date and stay tuned to our e-news and social media for registration information. 2023 Accomplishments We debuted the film: Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm at the Rialto to a sold out crowd!  We launched a microsite for Pond Farm, acknowledging the significance of the site and the need to create dedicated space devoted to Pond Farm aside from Stewards website.  We did an evaluation of the historic wheels to determine their ability for future use during workshops. We hosted workdays to improve the site and manage vegetation. We partially refurnished the guest house to improve accommodations for the artists-in-residence We screened the film again at the River + Redwoods Film Festival at the historic Monte Rio Theater. We hosted docent-led tours each month, May through October with lots of private tours in-between. With support from the Michele Luna Tribute Fund, we repaired the trellis in front of Marguerite's cottage. We hosted a community engagement event for each artist-in-residence. We created community. Copyright © 2020  Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: stewards@stewardscr.org - POB 2, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 Our physical address is: 17000 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, CA  95446 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.