Beau Haddock   Media Communications / Marketing

(502) 564-9738

             (Frankfort, KY)  Now in its 24^th year Kentucky Crafted: The Market, will be held March 5 and 6 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing A, Louisville. The Market features the state’s best traditional and contemporary crafts, visual art, books, children’s activities, demonstrations, and a wonderful variety of live performances by Kentucky’s finest old-time, jazz, gospel, chamber, roots music, and more… whatever your tastes, get ready for a great line-up at this year’s Cultural Stage. 

            The Cultural Stage will showcase artists from the Kentucky Arts Council’s 2004-2005 Performing Arts Directory (PAD) and the 2005 PAD Supplement.  These performers and many more will have CDs and cassettes for sale at The Marketplace, the Kentucky Arts Council’s Booth H, next to the Cultural Stage.  Also look for exciting drama from the Kentucky Historical Society Theater, performers from the Governor’s School for the Arts along with food demonstrations from the Department of Agriculture.

Schedule of Performances

Nick Lawrence, host of WUKY’s Curtains @ 8! NPR Program, will be this year’s Cultural Stage emcee.

Saturday, March 5

9:00 am (EST):  Ruth Irene Garrett

Author of Born Amish and Crossing Over, Ms. Garrett left the Amish faith and her family in 1996 and was ultimately excommunicated from the Amish Church. Since that time, she has fully immersed herself in modern life. Her compelling story represents a unique insight into the inner working of the Amish from someone who has lived among them.

10:00 am: Food Demonstration

Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Proud, food exhibitors will cook up tasty samplings of some of the state’s finest food products.

11:00 am: Basketmaking Narrative Stage

Join members of the Mammoth Cave Basketmakers Guild as they discuss the long-standing tradition of white oak basketmaking in South Central Kentucky.  This community of basketmakers from around Highway 31W represent several generations of a unique regional art form.  On the Cultural Stage, as well as in the Demonstration Area, these craftspeople will talk about some of their techniques, how the baskets evolve over time, and the importance of this living tradition in their daily lives.

12:00 pm: KHS Museum Theatre presents Current Events:  The Riverboat Adventures of John G. Stewart

1:00 pm: Governor’s School for the Arts

Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) provides hands-on-arts opportunities for the state’s talented high school students who are dancers, actors, instrumental and vocal musicians, creative writers, future architects and visual artists. GSA’s primary components include a three-week summer residential program and regional arts workshops.

2:00-6:00 pm: Kentucky Folklife Roster Artists- Artists in this series are documented by the Kentucky Folklife Program and represent intimately learned traditional music forms alive in Kentucky today. 

2:00 pm: Roger Cooper

Roger Cooper is one of only a handful of Lewis County, Kentucky fiddlers of his generation to grow up performing the region’s distinctive style of fiddling.  Over the years he has taken his fiddle playing to audiences across the United States.  Through a Kentucky Arts Council Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant, Roger teaches his unique style to apprentice Michael Garvin. 

3:00 pm: Steve Rector

With the robust and joyful sounds of the Western Kentucky guitar thumbpicking style, Steve Rector plays everything from old standards to popular songs.  He is a key figure in the music of his region and holds back-to-back recognition as a National Thumbpicking Champion.

4:00 pm: John Edmonds

John Edmonds’ career spans four decades, hundreds of cities, over thirty states, and fifteen countries on six continents.  Uplifting, high-energy gospel music filled with emotion is John’s trademark, and he continues to deliver his style of traditional African American gospel from his Bowling Green home to the world

5:00 pm: Zoe Speaks

Kentucky natives Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover perform what they call “contemporary Appalachian music,” mixing traditional songs and ballads with their own roots-infused originals.  They accompany themselves on guitar, clawhammer banjo, and lap dulcimer.  National audiences of all ages have enjoyed their music, storytelling, and Appalachian clogging.

Sunday, March 6

10:00 am: KHS Museum Theatre presents

Current Events:  The Riverboat Adventures of John G. Stewart

Climb aboard an 1806 riverboat and journey with John G. Stewart as he makes his way from Boonesborough to New Orleans…and then walks back home to Kentucky.  Based on Stewart’s diaries, this fast-paced adventure story is rich with river lore and history. 

11:00 am: Governor’s School for the Arts

12:00 pm: Squallis Puppeteers

The Squallis Puppeteers are dedicated to expanding puppetry by performing innovative theater and exploring original puppet design.  Through a combination of sculpting, painting, sewing, recycling and experimentation, puppet characters are created for one-of-a-kind performances that include original music, dance, video and drama.

1:00 pm: Richard Goering

Guitarist Richard Goering was first moved to play the guitar after seeing The Beatles’ performances on the Ed Sullivan Show.  As a result, he mastered several styles of guitar and performed to enthusiastic audiences across the U.S. and the world.  His performances include creative explorations of the eclectic music of our century – classical, Latin, jazz and popular.

2:00 pm: Ceruti Chamber Players

The Ceruti Chamber Players are widely recognized for their programs incorporating both great chamber music of past eras and compositions of living composers.  Their acclaimed performances and educational programs are regionally renowned and have taken them around the world. 

3:00 pm: The Betweeners

The Betweeners are an acoustic band from Kentucky playing a unique hybrid of American roots music.  With great instrumentation, soulful delivery, and intelligent lyrics, many have compared their sound to legendary acts such as The Band, Fairport Convention, and Old and In the Way.  The Betweeners’ sound shifts between sultry blues, Latin-flavored groove, and red-hot bluegrass. 

4:00 pm: Reel World String Band

Touring and performing since 1977, the Reel World String Band from Lexington, Kentucky shares their unique blend of American roots and Appalachian traditional music.  With tight harmony singing and honky-tonk blues influence, these Kentucky women continue their great contribution to the state’s musical heritage.

             Visit Kentucky Crafted: The Market, March 5, Saturday 9 am-6 pm and March 6, Sunday 10 am-5pm (EST) at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing A, Louisville. General admission for adults is $8.00, children 15 and under are free. Parking is $5.00. A limited number of wheelchairs will be available upon request. Visit the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program web site: www.kycraft.ky.gov, for the official program guide and a $1.00-off admission coupon.

The Market is produced by the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a division of in the Kentucky Arts Council, Commerce Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information, call 888 KY CRAFT (592-7238), local, (502) 564-8076, or visit www.kycraft.ky.gov.

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Since 1981, the Craft Marketing Program's mission is to develop the state's craft industry, support and empower Kentucky artisans and craftspeople, create an economically viable environment for craft entrepreneurs, preserve the state's craft traditions, stimulate and support product development, and generate public awareness, public support and public/private partnerships.

The Program provides assistance to Kentucky residents, individuals, or groups wanting to develop as craft professionals through economic opportunities and training, to other outside entities (e.g., craft retailers, craft and art organizations, community and government agencies), and the general public. The craft industry in Kentucky contributes 252 million dollars in annual sales and Kentucky is recognized as a model state for its craft programs and its role in the $14 billion national craft industry.