Mountain State artisans are known worldwide for creating
unique handmade crafts and beautiful masterpieces. Whether it is glassware from
one of the state’s 24 glass manufacturers or an ornate handmade quilt from
an artisan at Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia arts and craft complex, West Virginia
crafters are among the most talented in the nation. It seems like West Virginia
was made to be the home to talented artisans. In the 1900’s, glass blowing
companies like Blenko, Fenton, and Homer Laughlin China Company grew rapidly benefiting
from close access to major shipping rivers and railroads, as well as an abundant
supply of raw materials and skilled laborers. Furthermore, the mountains provided
seclusion from the outside world during West Virginia’s pioneer days, making
it necessary for residents to make many of the items they needed in order to survive.
It was not long until the rest of the world saw the beauty of these Appalachian
products, such as intricately hand-stitched quilts, which brought about a growing
cottage industry. As time progressed, demand for these homemade quilts grew and
today it is not uncommon for these quilts to sell for thousands of dollars.
Practical Beginnings
 What
makes West Virginian Appalachian crafts so unique? For starters, West Virginia is
the only state that lies entirely within the 13-state-spanning Appalachian Mountains.
Early pioneers had to rely upon determination, ingenuity, and their own resourcefulness
to survive and grow within the mountainous terrain of the state. Out of necessity,
West Virginians grew to be very independent and family-oriented since contact with
the outside world was so difficult. This isolation from the rest of the world made
early West Virginians extremely self-reliant and innovative and their crafting shows
this. Quilts had to be made piecemeal because large swaths of cloth were far too
expensive and nearly impossible to obtain. Women would sew together bits of clothing
and older blankets to make the “new” quilt. Woodcarving began much the
same way – as an entertaining, yet practical, break from backbreaking labor
on the family farm.
Glassmaking in the Mountain State
Our state’s many glass companies further illustrate
the idea that beauty and utility need not be oppo sing ideals. Fenton, the largest handmade colored glass manufacturer
in the United States, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. Free tours feature
glassblowers at work plus there is a gift shop and museum at this family-owned company
in Parkersburg. Mountainmade.com offers works of art by Blenko Glass as well as
Dying Art Glassworks. The company’s website showcases WV crafts from the Mountain
State and also sells many other handmade treasures like quilts from Cabin Creek
Quilts.
A Discovery Center for the Young and Old
Charleston’s Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences
and adjoining Avampato Discovery Museum host both the acclaimed West Virginia Symphony
Orchestra as well as a domed screen perfect for planetarium shows and incredible
films that surround viewers with dazzling colors and sounds. The Avampato Discovery
Museum is designed with kids in mind and features dozens of interactive exhibits
that allow a hands-on explanation of West Virginia’s geology, along with magnetism,
weather, and many other phenomena. Children can even see themselves deliver a mock
weather report in front of the working green screen.
Tamarack: A Haven for Crafters
Craft aficionados are raving about Beckley’s Tamarack:
The Best of West Virginia. Works by juried artists are always on display
and for sale. Oftentimes, visitors can even watch the artists at work. There are
many trades represented, including woodworking, pottery, and jewelry making. The
award-winning resort, The Greenbrier, manages the Taste of West Virginia dining
area that offers fantastic Appalachian-inspired cuisine. Visitors love to stroll
around the building, taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells of Appalachian
culture.
WV Festivals & Fairs
West Virginia’s many festivals are as rich and diverse
as her heritage. The Vandalia Gathering celebrates everything from the mountains
and features bluegrass music, clogging, and a liar’s contest. Both Wheeling
and Clarksburg offer Italian festivals to celebrate the impact that Italian-Americans
have had on the Mountain State. Woodsmen come from as far as Australia to compete
for more than $25,000 in prizes given away at Webster County’s Wood-Chopping
Festival. The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta celebrates the city’s rich river
heritage with parades, fireworks, and popular music acts.
Woodworking, quilting, crafts, glass making, and folk music are only a few
 of the fun
and interesting cultural activities available in West Virginia. West Virginia’s
unique geography and skilled artisans have provided crafters with the ideal place
to hone their skills and create treasures the entire world can enjoy. With so much
attention being paid to arts and crafts in West Virginia, crafters and artisans
will always have a place where their old-world skills and unique hand made creations
are welcomed.
West Virginia Festivals
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West Virginia Division of Tourism
Calendar of Events
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