BEREA - Art Town Supreme, Kentucky
A lot of folks make the mistake of stopping off the Interstate 75 at Exit 77 to visit the wonderful Kentucky Artisan Center (KAC) and then continue on the highway thinking they’ve seen all there is to see. The KAC is truly a marvel and time must be spent there to take it all in. But don’t miss the town of Berea a short distance from the interstate. Venture in a couple of miles to an art town supreme. Almost two towns in fact. There’s the group of studios clustered around the old railroad depot called Old Town Artisan Village. Up the hill a bit is the “new” town, with the esteemed craft-oriented Berea College slap bang in the middle, called College Square.
Start your tour at the old railway depot - it’s been transformed in to an information center. In the little park outside the depot is an example of an old Kentucky cabin and the first of the many hand sculptures on display throughout the town. Berea used the six-foot plus hand as their symbol to indicate reaching out to people and the hand of an artist. Some of the designs artist painted on the hands are very cool indeed.
The information center has an excellent map of Berea with the studios/galleries clearly marked. You’ll know which place is open because they will have a flag flying outside saying “Studio Artists at Berea: Artists at Work.” Most of the studios in the old town are on North Broadway but everything is within easy walking distance of the depot. First off, there’s a couple of galleries right next to the depot.
On College Square area enjoy a tasty panini in the lively Berea Coffee & Tea Co., on Main St, full of students and teachers. You really need more than one day in Berea. Check in to the Boone Tavern. This is a grand restored hotel which dominates the Main Street. The hotel started back in 1908 when the wife of the Berea College, President William Frost, had to provide lodging and food for about 300 visitors to the college. After they all left she told her husband it was time to build a guest house.
http://berea.com
Start your tour at the old railway depot - it’s been transformed in to an information center. In the little park outside the depot is an example of an old Kentucky cabin and the first of the many hand sculptures on display throughout the town. Berea used the six-foot plus hand as their symbol to indicate reaching out to people and the hand of an artist. Some of the designs artist painted on the hands are very cool indeed.
The information center has an excellent map of Berea with the studios/galleries clearly marked. You’ll know which place is open because they will have a flag flying outside saying “Studio Artists at Berea: Artists at Work.” Most of the studios in the old town are on North Broadway but everything is within easy walking distance of the depot. First off, there’s a couple of galleries right next to the depot.
On College Square area enjoy a tasty panini in the lively Berea Coffee & Tea Co., on Main St, full of students and teachers. You really need more than one day in Berea. Check in to the Boone Tavern. This is a grand restored hotel which dominates the Main Street. The hotel started back in 1908 when the wife of the Berea College, President William Frost, had to provide lodging and food for about 300 visitors to the college. After they all left she told her husband it was time to build a guest house.
http://berea.com