Shawnna Southerland with her stitched coiled fiber bowls
The Kentucky Artisan Center starts the new year off featuring artists from Berea in a variety of demonstrations throughout January.
Below is a list of dates and events beginning on Saturday, Jan. 4:
Saturday, Jan. 4
• 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Stitched Fiber Works Demonstrated by Shawnna Southerland
Shawnna Southerland comes from several generations of seamstresses who created both functional and decorative works. Southerland connects to her family tradition each time she sews her fiber bowls, place mats and coasters on her 1950s sewing machine.
Saturday, Jan. 11
• 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Gin Petty Demonstrates Miniature Natural Material Baskets
Gin Petty has been making baskets for many years and is primarily self-taught. For her demonstration, she will use the natural dried leaves and vines that she finds and gathers in the region surrounding her gardens and yard in Madison County.
Saturday, Jan. 18
• 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Demonstration from the Berea Welcome Center Carvers
Two 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.
Saturday, Jan. 25
• 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Honeysuckle & Hickory Bark Baskets by Janet Northern
Northern has been making baskets for over 20 years and is primarily self-taught. She utilizes the wood and natural vines that she finds and gathers in the region surrounding her farm to create her baskets. She will demonstrate her basketmaking techniques and talk about how the eastern Kentucky woodlands give her inspiration as well as material from which to work.
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 kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov.
Photos, below, left to right: Gin Petty weaves a miniature basket from daylily leaves; carved wooden spoons by Will Bondurant; Honeysuckle vine basket by Janet Northern