Edgar Tolson (Folk Artist)

Edgar Tolson was born in 1904 in Wolfe County, Eastern Kentucky. He was born the fourth of eleven children of poor tenant farmers. When he was nine, Edgar carved a table; he went on to carve a whole set of dinnerware for his family. The region was known for its roughness, and Tolson told stories of gunfights in nearby Lee City. He had a religious upbringing and possibly because of this he was a notorious prankster. Perhaps the most adventurous event was when he rigged dynamite to the side of the church with a long fuse that he lit and ran into the church so he would be in there when it exploded.

He eventually married, had kids, and became a preacher, but his alcohol and womanizing got in the way and also got him imprisoned. After suffering a stroke in the 1950's he began wood carving full time.

Called the Kentucky Gothic, his art dominantly reflects temptation and the fall of man. He carved hundreds of representations of Adam and Eve in the garden in front of the Tree of Life and including a black snake. His sculptures are one of the most recognized if not the most recognized of Kentucky Folk Art.

"This was a preacher who had faced many demons, and exorcised them with a penknife and a piece of Kentucky poplar." -Paul D'Ambrosio (Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY)

Minnie Adkins (folk artist)

Minnie Adkins was born Minnie Woolridge in Isonville, Kentucky in 1934. Growing up in Rural Kentucky, she was surrounded by men who carried on the tradition of wood carving. After her father noticed her curiosity, he gave her a pocket knife and she was hooked, venturing into what was then a strictly male pastime.

After first carving slingshots, she discovered that she could also carve roosters from the same forked branches. Thus began a love for carving animals of all kinds. Bears, foxes, families of possums, tigers, just about every animal that roams the barnyards or woods of Kentucky (and some that don't roam anywhere at all) have been recreated in wood by the talented Minnie Adkins.

Minnie first came to the attention of collectors when she commissioned some pieces for sale in a Morehead City gallery in 1984. Success quickly followed. She has received many awards and recognitions. She is now considered in top 5 of Kentucky's folk artists.

Ronald and Jessie Cooper (folk artists)

Ronald E. and Jessie F. Cooper (1932- & 1931) Painters and sculptors

Ronald and Jessie Cooper (from Flemingsburg, KY in Fleming County) make folk-art objects in the Appalachian Mountain tradition. Both are also self-taught painters.

The Coopers started making art after Ronald was in a serious automobile accident that left him disabled. Forced to live a changed life, he took up whittling animals in the Kentucky mountain craft style. Meanwhile, wife Jessie decided to try her skill as a sculptor. Because of the circumstances that brought them to this new career, Ronald Cooper describes the work he and Jessie create as a gift from God. And in fact, Biblical scenes dominate the work of both Coopers. A frequent theme is the conflict between good and evil, though the two artists approach it a little differently. Ronald sometimes gets his ideas from nightmares he has had, while Jessie’s work is more literal. They both paint on old furniture and print messages on their pieces.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are in failing health.

(above is: "Angels", "Heavenly Home and Hell", "God and Angels over Hell", "A Good Time Was Had By All")

Charlie & Noah Kinney (folk artists)

Brothers, Charley (1906-1991) and Noah (1912-1991) Kinney lived in Vanceburg, Kentucky their entire life.

Noah married Hazel (1929 - present) in 1960. Charley never married. Neither made it past 3rd grade, and when they inherited the family farm they decided to give it up. They began seriously creating art in the 1970's. Animals were the favorite subject for both brothers, making chickens and foxes out of wood or clay, or frantic pantings of dogs chasing "coons" or a "cheater cat" that Noah had seen in a zoo (the one time he left Vanceburg)

Charley had an extremely active imagination, and vivid memories of past events. Dramatic portrayals of natural and supernatural forces are the subject of his narrative, highly emotional, colorful paintings. Dreams effected the art they produced. With each of Charley's paintings there is a sense of deeply strong emotions attached, as if the scene on the page had been playing in his mind for 50, or so, years.

Noah created a series of puppets and statues that were used when performing in the "Kinney Band". Using a pole and string they would make the puppets dance around. He made 3 life-sized statues of the women from the band (Rose Marie, Kathy Lee, and Ann Mary) playing guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, a "Matt" puppet playing a slide guitar of some sort, and a puppet of "Old Dan Tucker" which is an old traditional song dating back to the 1840's. Charlie played the fiddle and Noah played the guitar.