Live holiday music, cornshuck nativity scenes, book signings, and demonstrations in wood carving, oil painting, pottery, and woodturning highlight a fun-filled holiday season of events at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea.
The Kentucky Artisan Center features a wide array of gift ideas for patrons of all ages. Dozens of Christmas trees displaying countless beautiful ornaments will be available for purchase throughout the month.
Below is a list of dates and holiday events:
Saturday, Dec. 1
•10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Pottery Wheel Demonstration by Mike Ware of Hindman
Ware is a professor of art at Alice Lloyd College and his work is regularly available at the Center.
•11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Live Holiday Music from Rahab’s Rope of Lexington
Rahab’s Rope is made up of Lexington-based musicians Stephanie Reams, Jana Gillham, Pat Ham, and Heather Toews. The group will showcase their talents on keyboard, guitar, violin, and vocals for a special holiday set.
Saturday, Dec. 8
•10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Woodturning Demonstration from Jamie Donaldson of Georgetown
Donaldson is active as a woodturning educator and workshop leader throughout the region. He specializes in asymmetrical forms in unusual woods.
•11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Live Holiday Music from Harpist Jan Hill of Lexington
Hill has performed throughout the region and has several CD’s available at the Center.
•11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Book Signing by former Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon
Kentucky author and former Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon will sign copies of her book, A Kentucky Christmas as well as an array of her children’s books including, Mother to Tigers, Sleepsong, Trucks Roll, and All the Water in the World.
Saturday, Dec. 15
•10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Demonstration from the Berea Welcome Center Carvers
Three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will demonstrate their individual carving techniques and show visitors how they color their carvings with inks, paint and stains. These Central-Kentucky artisans demonstrate on the third Saturday of every month at the Kentucky Artisan Center.
•11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Book Signing by Kentucky Authors
Children’s book author Jim Shields will sign copies of Skylar’s Wonderland, Starbird’s Special Gift and Welcome Baby Bunnies. Author Evelyn Christensen will sign copies of her children’s book, The 12 Days of Christmas in Kentucky.
Saturday, Dec. 22
•10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Demonstration from Cornshuck Artist Donna Smith of Waco
Smith will create traditional cornshuck Nativity scenes and figures. She is the niece of the late well-known cornshuck artist Edna Ritchee who taught Smith how to make cornshuck dolls, figures and flowers. Using gourds for the backdrop, Smith places nativity figures within.
Saturday, Dec. 29
•10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Oil Painting Demonstration from Carl Von Fischer of Mount Vernon
In 1992, Von Fischer moved to Kentucky to be near his son and grandchildren. Here he began painting full-time. Von Fischer likes to paint landscapes and animals and he uses a palette knife often to layer and apply the oil paint and delineate grasses, foreground, and trees.
The Kentucky Artisan Center is located just off I-75 at Berea Exit 77. The Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers traveler services, shopping, exhibits and Saturday artist demonstrations. The Artisan Café & Grill is open for breakfast and lunch from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Kentucky Artisan Center is an agency in the Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
For more information, visit http://kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov
(provided by Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet)
