Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Miniatures Artist Karen Scates to Create Musical Instrument Pins at the Kentucky Artisan Center

On Friday, July 14, Karen Scates of Woodburn, will demonstrate how she creates her miniature musical instrument pins from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

Karen Scates is an artist who has been working in miniature for over twenty years. She learned woodworking from her grandfather on their small farm in Woodburn, Kentucky. Karen explains, “Granddad instilled in me a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship and a true love of the beauty of wood. I’ve been fascinated with scale models as long as I can remember, so a progression to miniature woodworking seemed a logical path.”

As an amateur musician, Karen brings to the world of miniatures what might be considered her specialty – miniature musical instruments. She admits with a smile, “I’m a guitar player, so of course, one of the first things I made in miniature was a classical guitar!” Karen makes miniature dulcimers, bluegrass instruments, and Bill Monroe style mandolins out of such hardwoods as walnut, maple and cherry. Her 1/12th scale instruments have hollow construction and are made as much like their full-size counterparts as possible with inlaid wood and bent sides. Using a lot of magnification, Karen even has surgical instruments for tools. She often adds specific details to these unique miniature musical instruments which can regularly be found at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

The Kentucky Artisan Center 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 680 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.