By: Kentucky Folklife Program Folklife Specialist ~ Camille Maria Acosta

_{Arthur Hatfield listens to a rising banjo star; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

The smell of wood shavings and the sounds of Kentucky melodies filled the air during the first weekend of March, as the Kentucky Crafted Market began. Taking place in the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, the Kentucky Crafted Market welcomes the public to shop locally made crafts, listen to Kentucky musicians, participate in arts-filled activities, and learn about the folk & traditional arts of the region. With a special thanks to the market organizers the Kentucky Arts Council, the stadium floor houses “The Folklife Zone”, a space in which folk artists demonstrate and display their artistry, and are presented by the Kentucky Folklife Program. Alongside the zone, the KFP was equally as proud to honor our 2025 Homer Ledford Award winner on the market main stage.

_{KFP Director Brent Björkman hands Arthur Hatfield the 2025 Homer Ledford Award; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

Since 2007, the KFP’s Homer Ledford Award has been given to Kentucky luthiers who have demonstrated outstanding craftsmanship, a sense of mastery in making and setting up instruments for excellent tone and playability, and who have been recognized time and time again by the communities of musicians they serve. This award is given in honor and memory of master luthier, musician, and educator Homer Ledford. Known for his superb craftsmanship, impressive productivity, inspired innovations, generous spirit, and willingness to teach anyone interested in his art, Homer had a profound impact on musical communities throughout Kentucky and far beyond. Arthur Hatfield of Glasgow, Kentucky exemplifies Ledford’s passion in instrument creation and passing on the importance of music and community.

_{Arthur Hatfield’s family and loved ones smile for the camera; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

Born and raised in Rocky Hill, Kentucky, Bluegrass was the music score of Hatfield’s life from a very early age. Playing in a plethora of bands at the beginning of his journey, Hatfield is well-versed in fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, and of course, the banjo. Later in life, Hatfield crafted a world in woodworking and cabinetry. However, creating banjos from the Rim to the Peghead has always been Hatfield’s true calling. Today, Hatfield Banjos is the home shop where Hatfield creates his musical masterpieces. Praised by infamous Bluegrass musicians and loyal community members alike, there is no match for Hatfields banjo craftsmanship. Hatfield attended the Craft Market alongside his lovely family to receive his award. We were honored to host Tom Adler, well-known folklorist and ethnomusicologist as the moderator for our Homer Ledford Narrative stage. Tom nominated the multi-talented Arthur for this honor, so it only made sense to have them on stage with one another; laughing and reminiscing about life in music.

_{Tom Adler hosts the narrative stage with Arthur Hatfield and Brent Björkman; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

This year, the Folklife Zone hosted four magnificent traditional artists: Quilters Angelique Shah and Chaney Williams, and Basket Makers Scott Gilbert and Micah Wiles. Typically during the market hours, the artists are free to display their masterful work for the community, and demonstrate the craft’s creation and/or create an activity to get the public involved. Beginning on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, Scott and Micah set up shop to help teach the Kentucky Commonwealth about the brilliance of basket weaving. Both of these gentlemen are proud recipients of the Kentucky Arts Council’s Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant, which according to the KAC’s website provides funding for, “a Kentucky master traditional artist to teach skills, practices and culture to a less experienced artist from the same community during the course of a year.” 

_{Scott Gilbert and Micah Wiles take notes on their hard work; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

According to Scott, he learned the craft of white oak basket making from fifth generation basket maker Lestel Childress and his wife Ollie Stith Childress (fourth generation maker) of Park City, Kentucky in 1982. Since the early eighties, Beth Hester, Scott and his wife, Beth Hester have grown The Basket Maker’s Catalog grew into one of the nation’s finest basket making and chair caning supply shops. Micah Wiles of Pulaski County, Kentucky, is a basketmaker specializing in split white oak basketry. He began making baskets as a college student and has gradually learned to work with various materials—from bittersweet vine, to split oak, to willow, to traditional Romanian split hazel—and weave many styles, from egg baskets to pack baskets. Micah works on his family’s land, Cedar Creek Farm, in Somerset, Kentucky, where he often teaches other workshops and classes pertaining to farming and traditional arts. Families and children alike were completely starstruck by both Micah and Scott as they broke down massive pieces of White Oak into splits using their shaving horse. It is incredible to see the massive undertaking necessary to weave a delicate basket, and it was thrilling to see the steps occur in person. 

_{A young fan learns basket weaving from the great Scott Gilbert; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

_{A Chance to play with the shaving horse is a no-brainer with a masterful guide like Micah; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

On the Quilting side of things, another KAC Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship duo wove an interactive space where community members could become a piece of a larger work. Angelique Shah is a native New Yorker originally from the Bronx. She attended the High School of Fashion Industries in NYC which gave her the foundation for creating beautiful clothing, home décor, and accessories. After serving in the US Navy as an Aviation Mechanic for five years, and receiving honors for serving in the Iran-Iraq War, she currently lives in Shepherdsville, KY and continues her sewing and quilting work with her studio, “Mojo Quilts & More!” and her Kentucky folk & traditional arts community.

_{Angelique spreads her joy to the community as they look on at her quilts; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

_{A beautiful array of textures and bright fabrics filled the Folklife Zone; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

Chaney Williams is an Artist, Doula, Poet, Herbalist, Soft Witch, and Craft Maker in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Chaney’s ancestors in both Western and Central Kentucky were all quilters, tatters, knitters, and crocheters. Because of Chaney’s family ties to the craft, the cultural tradition of quilting in the commonwealth, and her love of fiber arts, it was important to her to learn this art form because it brings her closer to the ancestors she was never able to meet. A multitude of colorful fabrics and mediums flooded the Folklife Zone, as Angelique and Chaney’s quilts and patchwork fabrics lined their tables. It was important for both of these fine creatives for the market audience to find accessibility to the artform. The Quilters encouraged community members to stop by and color their own patch work quilts on pieces of paper. 

_{Angelique and Chaney smile amidst their powerful mentorship; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

_{Craft Market-Goers color a plethora of paper quilts; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

Once again, a massive thank you Kentucky Arts Council for such an incredible opportunity each and every year for the Kentucky Folklife Program, and the magnificent artists that make Kentucky shine. The Bluegrass State is rich with culture, tradition, and heart, and we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in it next year. See you then!

_{Scott Gilbert holds a woven piece of Kentucky Art made at the market; Kentucky Crafted Market, Lexington, KY; Photo by Camille Maria Acosta}

-KFP-

Established in 1989, the Kentucky Folklife Program (KFP) is the Commonwealth’s statewide public folklife program, with the mission to document, present, and conserve the diverse traditional cultures and heritage of Kentucky. In 2012, the KFP moved from Frankfort to the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at WKU. For more information, contact KFP Folklife Specialist Camille Maria Acosta: camille.acosta@wku.edu or KFP director Brent Björkman: brent.bjorkman@wku.edu 

-KAC-

The mission of the Kentucky Arts Council is to foster environments for the people of Kentucky to value, participate in, and benefit from the arts. The work of the Kentucky Arts Council is focused in five thematic areas: Vibrant Communities, Creative Industry, Creativity and Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Showcasing the Arts.

-WKU SCCJS-

Welcome to the Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies. Here, related social science disciplines unite to foster a deeper appreciation of complex issues affecting individuals, communities, and societies. Our department is dedicated to fostering student success through engaging degree programs and experiential learning that lead to meaningful careers. The discoveries and insights of our academic disciplines provide understanding of and solutions to the social, cultural, and biological causes and consequences of human behavior in the past and present. Explore our programs, engage with our applied research opportunities, and contribute to our mission of creating platforms of social engagement where all can flourish.

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.