Gwen Heffner
Information Specialist
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
gwen.heffner@ky.gov
Phone: 859/ 985-5448
Fax: 859/ 985-5449

On Friday, March 4, woodworker Gerald Cooper of Berea, will be demonstrate how he carves from walnut his unique wooden jewelry from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Gerald Cooper has been working with wood for over 30 years. He served as a minister in four states before moving to Berea in 1985, where he and his wife Joyce ran The Cooper Shop in Old Town, Berea, for 14 years. Gerald is a juried member of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen as well as the Southern Highland Craft Guild. His background as a minister has led him to create commissioned works for churches, utilizing his low relief carving skills to make intricately carved crosses. Gerald also creates wooden jewelry by carving walnut into Celtic knots, doves, treble clefts and Celtic crosses.

Gerald is also adept as a wood turner. He creates turned wooden bowls, decorative Ikebana containers and numerous items for the desk and office from cherry, walnut and other hardwoods.
 
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is 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 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 470 artisans from all 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 of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.                               
 
High resolution photos are available on request.
Contact:  gwen.heffner@ky.gov