Featherstone was a community effort

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To the Editor:

In your otherwise excellent coverage of the wonderful developments at Featherstone, there was an oversight regarding the center’s founding that deserves clarification. In addition to the indispensable and selfless contributions of the four women mentioned, Featherstone was originally brought into being through the efforts of a full board, along with a dedicated group of donors. In particular, I doubt that anyone involved in the founding of Featherstone, as I was, would dispute the idea that the role of Peggy (Vance) Pinney, who served both as president of the board and the center’s first director, was absolutely essential in bringing to life the vision of a community arts center on the Vineyard. Peggy drew in both artists and donors to initiate programs, and facilitated the renovation of every original building on the campus. In addition, many, many others were vital contributors to the growth of this remarkable institution, in some cases even before the farm itself was made available to us all by the Stevens family. It was truly a community effort, and deserves to be recognized as such.

 

Bruce MacNelly

West Tisbury