On Friday, March 14, three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will demonstrate their woodcarving techniques from 10:30 – 3:30 at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. Artisans demonstrating on March 14, will be Vince Harrison of Irvine, Jack Gann of Berea, and Keith Flowers of Richmond, who carve in-the-round figures and generally have a good time together, laughing, talking, and creating carvings for visitors to see.
This regional woodcarving group is organized by Berea artisan John Adams who teaches 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.
Besides Adams, Jack Gann had also begun teaching woodcarving for Eastern Kentucky University’s continuing education classes. He is particularly focused on carving figures and animals such as dogs and deer. Vince Harrison who lives outside of Irvine, is known for his tiny twig roosters.
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). Woods used for carving are walnut, butternut, catalpa, cedar, basswood or buckeye.
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, located 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.