Appalachian Treasures

Soak up some bluegrass, and mingle with the state's foremost folk artists this month at the Kentucky Folk Art Center.

You don't have to be a collector, or even know anything about art, to enjoy the Kentucky Folk Art Center. Among the hundreds of paintings, carvings, and objects, you'll find something to make you smile.

The center's permanent collection contains nearly 1,000 works by the region's most talented untrained artists. You'll also find folk art for sale in the museum store.

Angels to Animals

Look for Calvin Cooper's funky black-andwhite spotted chicken men ($50-$110), Ronald Cooper's devil figures ($20) and wooden figures of Uncle Sam ($20-$25), and Minnie Adkins's animal ornaments ($20). Other delights include brilliantly colored paintings by Jim Gary Phillips ($75-$250) and Heaven Shoes, children's keepsake shoes decorated with angelic figures by Jessie Cooper ($50).

Art Show and Auction

Stop by on June 5 during the Day in the Country Folk Art Show & Auction, and you can also talk with the artists. More than 50 of them will display and sell their works under a tent set up next to the center. Meet Calvin Cooper, known as the "Chicken Man" because of the rooster figures he creates. "Maple and dogwood are practically the only woods I use," he says. "The dogwood forks, so I find a limb with four forks, and I have the wings, the tail, and a place to put the head."

Calvin's brother Ronald also carves in wood, but his art takes on human forms. Among the most popular are his devil figures and colorful images of Uncle Sam. Ronald's wife, Jessie, turns her talent into Heaven Shoes and wooden boxes decorated with found objects. One of the area's best-known folk artists is Minnie Adkins. She carves, paints, and has been known to design and make quilts.

Music and More

Arrive a day early or stay a day late to enjoy the tastes and sounds of Appalachian heritage during Bluegrass 'n More, June 4-6. Performances include bluegrass, gospel, and other traditional forms of music. Food will be available from booths at the festival, or for a real meal, stop by D's Main Street Bistro near the museum. KAREN LINGO

Kentucky Folk Art Center: (606) 783-2204 or www.kyfolkart.org.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2004
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