Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Berea Welcome Center Carvers ‘Cut-it-Up’ at Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea

On Saturday, Oct. 15, three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will ‘Cut-it-Up’ by demonstrating woodcarving from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. Carving that day will be Vince Harrison of Irvine, Jack Gann of Berea and Bill Curry of Liberty.

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. Woods generally used for spoon and bowl carving are harder woods such as walnut, oak, maple or cherry.

Members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers hail from all over central Kentucky. Community activities provided by the group include carving classes, carving demos at schools, monthly Kentucky Artisan Center demonstrations and special events. Jack Gann, Ron McWhorter and numerous other members also teach woodcarving as part of the Continuing Education Program at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. Several members of this woodcarving group have works in the Center’s current special exhibition An Artful Array: Bowls by Kentucky Artisans, on display at the Center through Feb. 25, 2012.

Members of this woodcarving group specialize in a wide variety of techniques and styles of carving. Some members focus on carving ‘Caricatures’ and figures in the round. Others enjoy carving animals and birds while others create functional works such as spoons, hand -hewn bowls, decorative tiles and ornaments. Most members are great teachers and enjoy sharing their love of woodcarving, making their demonstrations at the Kentucky Artisan Center a mix of humor, technique and storytelling.

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 200 Artisan Way, just off I-75 at exit 77 (Berea). The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is free. The center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from 100 counties across the Commonwealth and a special exhibition, An Artful Array: Bowls by Kentucky Artisans, now through Feb. 26, 2012.  For information call 859-985-5448 or visit the center’s website at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.