Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Regional Wood Carvers Cut Quite a Figure

On Friday, March 24, four members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will be carving wooden figures from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. Demonstrating that day will be Bill Currey of Houstonville, Oris Stanton of Somerset, Nancyanna Marriner of Richmond, and Vince Harrison of Irvine.

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 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. Artisans demonstrating on March 24 will be four members who carve in-the-round figures and generally have a good time together, laughing, talking, and carving.

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 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.