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Kentucky Artisan Center
Regional Woodcarvers Demonstrate Skills at Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
On Friday, May 9, three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will demonstrate woodcarving from 10:30 – 3:30 at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.
This regional woodcarving group is organized by Berea artisan John Adams who along with several other members of the group, teach woodcarving in the Continuing Education Program at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. Members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers have nearly all studied with Adams, and they gather twice each month at the Kentucky Artisan Center to help each other, share information among themselves and with Center visitors. The more than 20-member group includes carvers from beginners to masters from all over Central Kentucky.
Woodcarving is an ancient art found in every culture and part of the world. Carving styles include whittling, line carving, chip carving, pierced carving, relief carving, in-the-round carving (sculpture), architectural carving and chainsaw carving. Woodcarvings are classified as realistic, caricaturized or stylized (without specific features).
A variety of woods can be used for carving. Regional favorites include walnut, butternut, catalpa, cedar, basswood or buckeye. Beginning carvers often start out carving a sweet potato – which carves easily and when thoroughly dried and varnished– turns into a very dense and hard finished carving. Some woodcarvers specialize in painted works and others allow the natural beauty of the wood to dominate the finished work.
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 975 Walnut Meadow Road, just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from 90 counties across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet.
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