The Little-Known Story Of Appalachian Crafts In Kentucky And How They Made A Big Comeback
By Will Suphan|Published March 06, 2024
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Will Suphan
Author
Will has been living in Arizona off and on for 30+ years in the Phoenix Metro and Tucson areas. He has traveled all over the state as well as having lived all over the Southwest. He's been writing for OnlyInYourState for one year and has previously written for Digital Journal. Will has a passion for travel and writing and combining the two is what he loves most. He loves solo international travel and has been to Thailand, France, Japan, and Cambodia.
Like most other places, we in Kentucky have seen so many things come and go over the years. Some never to return, and some, for better or worse, make a comeback. Appalachian culture in Kentucky is often thought of as being largely unknowable and darkly mysterious, however, it has an ingenuity and creativity that was born of necessity and has been seeing a revival in recent years. Let’s take a look at how Appalachian crafts in Kentucky made a big comeback.
When many people think of the people of Appalachian culture, they often think of a reclusive people who hunt small game, play musical jamborees, distill moonshine, and are a bit of a relic of the past. Yet, there is a rich culture of creativity that largely went unseen by most as the commercialization of the economic landscape didn’t have much of a place for such things.
The Appalachian people have a resourcefulness and ingenuity that was originally based on survival, having to build their own homes and schools, fashion needed dishes, tools, furniture, and baskets, and basically make do with whatever resources they had on hand. With modern technology, society sought to distance itself from what it deemed primitive. Shiny gadgets overtook cultural heritage and tradition.
The people of Appalachia are known for their woodworking skills and many skilled luthiers come from this region. A renewed interest in their craftsmanship inspired the opening of places like the Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman, KY where old-fashioned and modern styles of instruments are lovingly crafted.
Modern manufacturing made crafts like quilting go by the wayside for most people, however, there has been a rekindled interest in authentic, old-fashioned, hand-made crafts and quilts are now some of the most sought-after items like you’ll find, like the ones at Appalachian Quilt and Yarn in Hazard.
Pottery is another craft that was initially used for making items needed for daily life like plates, cups, jugs, and more after clay was dug from the riverside, and now galleries like Tater Knob Pottery & Farm in Berea create items that run the gamut from rustic to elegant.
While the advent of modern factories nearly relegated Appalachian crafts to being mostly just history, the collective burnout from an oversaturation of chain stores and corporate labels now drives people to seek things that are much more simple, honest, and human. Now, shops offer goods and sometimes even teach classes on how to create these crafts that are as practical as they are beautiful.
Have you had the chance to explore Appalachian crafts in Kentucky? Which crafts are your favorites? Let us know about them in the comments. To explore more of this unique area, put on your hiking boots and explore some trails in the Appalachian mountains:
