Interview with Garry Barker, August 3, 2010

Interview Summary

Garry Barker discusses growing up in Kentucky, his education at Berea College, and the process of how he was hired by the Southern Highland Craft Guild in Asheville, North Carolina. He discusses becoming the Director of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen. He discusses also working for the Marketing Appalachian Crafts Through the Church (MATCH). Barker talks about helping to start the Berea Craft Festival and the overall success of the event. He discusses some of the problems in the crafts industry, particularly getting local craftspeople to produce a high number of identical crafts for retail stores. Barker talks about his experiences with the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, which sought to help craftspeople in the state with activities that made it possible for them to make a living and operate a business. Barker talks about the crafts industry becoming more business-oriented over time.

Interview Keyword

Berea College Craft festivals. Craft shops Kentucky Craft Marketing Program Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen Marketing Appalachian Crafts Through the Church (MATCH) Morehead State University Southern Highland Craft Guild

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Artisans Barker, Garry, 1943- --Interviews Barker, Garry, 1943- Handicraft--Appalachian Region Handicraft--Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.