Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Regional Woodcarvers Demonstrates Techniques at Kentucky Artisan Center

On Saturday, August 15, three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will demonstrate three distinctive woodcarving disciplines - from 10:30 – 3:30 at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. On Saturday David Buzzard of Lexington will demonstrate bark carving, Will Bondurant of Berea will demonstrate chip carving, and Vince Harrison of Irvine will demonstrate figure carving.

This regional woodcarving group was organized in 2000 by John Adams, Keith Flowers, Larry Smith and Jerry Jackson who rotated carving sessions and meetings in their homes. When Belle Jackson, director of Berea Tourism invited the group to meet at the Berea Welcome Center each week on Wednesdays, their numbers grew from 4 to over 20. Anywhere from 12-15 carvers meet on Wednesdays at the Berea Tourism office and the groups name became – The Berea Welcome Center Carvers. Each week this group, which includes carvers of all skill levels, gathers to share carving information with each other and with visitors.

Members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers hail from all over Central Kentucky and community activities provided by the group include carving classes, carving demos at schools, monthly Kentucky Artisan Center demonstrations, and special events. Adams, along with Jack Gann, and several other members, often teach woodcarving as part of the Continuing Education Program at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.

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 commonly used for woodcarving are walnut, butternut, catalpa, cedar, basswood or buckeye. Some carvers use Cedar for the beauty in its color and the wonderful natural odor that emanates from the wood.

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 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from 100 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 Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet.