Interview with Ruth Ann Iwanski, July 9, 2010

Partial Transcript: The interviewer is Amanda Fickey.

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski describes her life background. She discusses her educational background and working in education for elementary schools and special education classes. She then talks about coming to work at David Appalachian Crafts. She also describes the work of lawyer John Rosenberg in providing free legal aid to the Appalachian region and helping the St. Vincent Mission which supports David Appalachian Crafts.

Keywords: David Appalachian Crafts

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: And uh, maybe you could tell me just a little bit more about St. Vincent Mission, and why they would come to Appalachia?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski describes the history and goals of the St. Vincent Mission. She discusses its founding by the Catholic order the Brothers of Charity. She notes the various services the Mission provided the community, such as schools, home repairs, budget planning programs, and emergency needs. Iwanski talks about the economic benefits of the Mission's policy of hiring members of the community in exchange for helping pay their bills.

Keywords: Brothers of Charity; David Appalachian Crafts; St. Vincent Mission (David, Ky.)

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Um, so how much, as far as actually running David Appalachian Crafts, is most of it done through volunteer work?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the process of working at David Appalachian Crafts as a business. She discusses the amount of workers on hand for running the store. She talks about the donation process and how materials are used. She also describes how crafters use the materials and if they provide their own.

Keywords: David Appalachian Crafts

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: And is there anyone that--is this mostly supplemental income for people? Is there anyone that actually tries to make a living off--

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the nature of who most of the crafters are. She talks about their income level and what role crafting plays in their finances. She talks about their general age range, noting the prominence of older people turning to crafting following their retirement. Iwanski also talks about the gender dynamics of crafting, describing the mix of men and women doing crafting, as well as the specific jobs most commonly found among each gender.

Keywords: Age; David Appalachian Crafts; Demographics; Gender; Income; Money; Social Security

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Um, so if you were to describe David Appalachian Crafts, uh, financially, how would you describe it? As non-profit? Would you describe it as co-operative?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski talks about the legal and financial status of David Appalachian Crafts. She also describes its relationship with the St. Vincent Mission. She also talks about how she would describe David Appalachian Crafts in terms of a business. She notes the changing of people who worked for the business as they get older or leave the craft industry to find better work.

Keywords: Cottage industries; David Appalachian Crafts; Non-profit corporations; St. Vincent Mission

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Well, let me ask you, I know that, um, you've been active in this industry for a while now.

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski describes her history working with the Appalachian Artisan Center. She discusses the different positions she held at the center. She also talks about the importance of having artisans present, talking about visitors seeing people working their craft. She also talks about the problem of getting artists to schedule regular hours at the center to be able to be seen by visitors.

Keywords: Appalachian Artisan Center; David Appalachian Crafts; School of Craft

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Now, you mentioned you think it's good for the region--

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the benefits of arts and crafts for the greater Appalachian region as a whole. She notes the important connection between economic and cultural development, and how a thriving arts and crafts industry helps tourism. She talks about how artists many times fail to acknowledge the value of their work as they are used to the presence of homemade crafts. She also talks about the problems of pricing their work.

Keywords: Benefits; Cultural development; Economic development; Economics; Income; Money

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region--Economic conditions.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Well, let me ask you this, you know, uh, you mentioned that the crafters have a difficult time understanding how to price items.

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the commission policies in terms of what David Appalachian Crafts gets from the selling of the arts and crafts. She also discusses the issue with working with artists in pricing items.

Keywords: David Appalachian Crafts; Income; Money; Prices; Retail; Wholesale

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region--Economic conditions.; Appalachian Region.; Art--Commissioning.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: It seems like there's a focus on, um, teaching artists to be entrepreneurs--

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the philosophy of David Appalachian Crafts towards encouraging entrepreneurship with the artists. She talks about how the goal was to encourage crafters to be able to start their own businesses, and teaching them what they would need to do to be successful business people. She also notes the lives of the people who become crafters, and their lifestyle.

Keywords: Business; Entrepreneurs; Income; Money

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Why do you think some people choose to do that?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the appeal of being a crafter. She talks about the independence and controlling one's own hours and work that appealed to many. She talks about the personal fulfillment many feel being a crafter. She also notes that crafting holds a big appeal to young people.

Keywords: Appeal; Entrepreneurship; Interests; Self-employed

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Well, let me ask you this, one of the things I am interested in is how useful the Kentucky Craft Marketing program is for organizations like yours that are in rural Eastern Kentucky...

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the value of the Kentucky Craft Marketing program to the Kentucky craft industry. She notes the importance of networking and creating business plans to the maintenance of the industry. She also talks about the creation of wholesale networks with help from Woodford Reserve. She also notes the decline in gift shops at national parks, and the decline of state funding and support for the arts and crafts industry.

Keywords: David Appalachian Crafts; Kentucky Craft Marketing program; Kentucky Crafted; Woodford Reserve

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: So, I'll tell you what, just, uh, because we have the chance to record all of it--

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the history of the Kentucky Craft Marketing program and Kentucky Crafted. She notes the origins of the market when First Lady Phyllis George started the program at a kiosk in New York. She also notes the connection to horse parks and the start of placing orders. She then talks about the role the program and fair played with anniversaries of September 11th.

Keywords: Kentucky Craft Marketing program; Phyllis George

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Arts and history.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Um, let me ask you another question, you're involved with the, uh, Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council. Um, maybe you tell me a little about that organization and why you participate with that group?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses working with the Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council, and what their goals are. She talks about their hopes to get artists to sell wholesale goods. She also discusses the quality of goods needed to be juried by the Council. She talks about the nature of goods they are hoping to sell, and whether they prefer art over craft. Iwanski discusses the jury process and how the Council would decide whether to accept or promote certain items. She also discusses the importance of Appalachian style crafts over strictly heritage crafts.

Keywords: Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Appalachians (People); Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Arts and geography.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: 'Cause I wondered how many people you get that come into the store, and they want to purchase, you know, an item that's here because it's actually made here, and it's not mass-produced. Do you have a lot of people that buy items for--

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses the appeal of buying local goods. She talks about the prominence of buying goods at David Appalachian Crafts that are Appalachian made. She also discusses the impact of the economic downturn in lowering sales. She describes the importance of the story of the person who made the craft as what inspires people to buy local crafts.

Keywords: Economics; Local goods; Locally made

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: Um, well, let me ask you, is there anything that I haven't touched on today that you think's important for me to know about David Appalachian Crafts and what you're doing in the community? Anything that we should add to the conversation?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski discusses her work in the community and using crafts to benefit the community. She talks about working with children and teaching them how to craft. She notes the role that grant money played in getting supplies. She also discusses working with drug and rehabilitation therapy as a way to engage with the community. She talks about the help of donated materials and recycling materials.

Keywords: Community engagement; Community involvement; Community service; Teaching

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.

Partial Transcript: So, if you were to--just, just to start to wrap up, if you were to think of how the craft industry will evolve down the road, um, do you think it will continue to be excess--successful? Will it continue to grow? How do you see it ten years from now?

Segment Synopsis: Iwanski considers the future of the arts and craft industry in Eastern Kentucky. She also discusses the ways to appeal to young people and ways to get young people interested and invested in arts and crafts. Iwanski also notes individuals and organizations that were deemed important or successful in the industry.

Keywords: Future; Interests

Subjects: Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.; Appalachian Region.; Artists and their art; Artists.; Arts and crafts movement--United States.; Arts and crafts.; Craft festivals.; Regionalism and the arts.