| Fords in Four: Greg Bernhardt '95
Owner, Blue Ledge Farm; Oil Painter; Author, When Everything was Possible
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1. What teacher do you remember most?
Art Department Chair Mr. Fox is probably the most influential teacher I have had. His lessons were not simply based on an understanding of the fundamentals of drawing, color theory, or composition. He showed me how the "creative process" is the most powerful tool that one can possess. Being able to stare at the blank canvas in front of you, and dare to put something of your own down, takes courage, deliberation and an understanding of responsibility. One starts a painting with a vision in mind, but once underway, they may see that certain things must be let go, and focus shift to other parts. The artist has to be willing to get rid of an idea that they may have loved in order to make something great. At a certain point, the painting has a life of its own, and one must be willing to see that and allow it to go in the direction it needs. I use these lessons in continuing to create paintings, and now in writing books, but it is also valuable insight that guides me in every life decision I make.
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2. What inspired you to found Blue Ledge Farm?
When my wife, Hannah Sessions, and I started Blue Ledge Farm 17 years ago, we found ourselves staring at a metaphorical blank canvas, and with the same creative perspective I learned from Mr. Fox, we set about building a business. We were 23 years old when we dreamt up this vision of making artisanal cheeses and milking goats. Some of our inspiration was rooted in our year living abroad in Italy, where a love of food was solidified. We also wanted to work for ourselves and work with our hands. Being creative people, we couldn't just milk goats - we needed to create something, and so the cheese was born. Cheese-making is part science and part art; there are laboratorial aspects to the process to ensure consistency, food safety, and a knowledge of cheese, but the artistic part is when one decides when and how to tweak the process in order to make something new, or something great.
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| Read the full interview with Greg and see some of his paintings on the Big Room blog.
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Young Alumni Networking Event On Jan. 4 we held our second annual Young Alumni Networking Event. The event was a tremendous success, as we were delighted to share the evening with special older alum guests representing various industries including finance, real estate, technology, sports and media, marketing, and law. The evening was kicked off by a panel discussion between alums of all ages about their careers, advice for college students, advice for young professionals, and lessons learned from their careers.
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Alumni Participation in The Haverford Fund As of today: 16%
Goal for June 30, 2017: 40% Every year, we're proud to report the highest alumni participation in annual giving among local independent schools. Help us keep it that way - make your gift today! Click on the Give Now button below or send your gift to the School with Venmo (@thehaverfordschool).
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| Arts Festival: May 4-6 Calling all artists! The 7th annual Haverford School Arts Festival will take place in conjunction with Alumni Weekend on May 4-6, and feature events and exhibitions to showcase student and alumni work across a broad range of artistic fields. All events are free to attend.
If you are interested in submitting your work to this year's show, please contact Art Department Chair Chris Fox.
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| Campus Spotlight: The Index The Index is a student-run publication of The Haverford School that does more than bring news: it provides the diverse perspectives of the student body. It is an outlet for student writers to take stands on issues they deem important. It chronicles the daily struggles and accomplishments of the Haverford community. It presents new ideas and aspires to influence constructive change. The Index also provides a forum for discussion of pertinent issues, such as student culture, academic policy, and Haverford's place in world issues.
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Los Angeles Alumni Reception
When: Jan. 24, 12 p.m.
Where: Los Angeles Country Club
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San Francisco Alumni Reception
When: Jan. 26, 6 p.m.
Where: The University Club
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Book Signing at Conshohocken Rowing Center: Dotty Brown
When: Jan. 29, 2 p.m.
Where: Malvern Prep Boathouse, Conshohocken Rowing Center, 307 Washington Street, Conshohocken
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Edward R. Hallowell Literary Lecture: Jennifer Finney Boylan '76
When: Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ball Auditorium, The Haverford School
Details: This event is free and open to the public. It will include a reading, Q&A session, and book signing.
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Clearwater, Florida Alumni Reception: Phillies vs. Twins Spring Training Game
When: March 23, 1:05 p.m.
Where: Bright House Field, Clearwater, Florida
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Boston Alumni Reception
When: April 6, 6 p.m.
Where: Grill 23 & Bar
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Alumni Weekend & Arts Festival 2017
When: May 4-6, 2017
Where: The Haverford School
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Save the Date: 29th Annual Doc Thomas Golf Classic
When: May 15, 2017
Where: Rolling Green Golf Club, Springfield, PA
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