Oral History Interview with Gwen Heffner

Partial Transcript: The first thing I want to ask you is how you got involved with the Commission? When did you learn about it, how did you participate in the planning process?

Segment Synopsis: Gwen Heffner learned about the Commission from Kristen Branscum through an announcement Branscum made at a Public Information Officer meeting. Heffner was excited by this announcement because the Artisan Center is such a great place for travelers to get a glimpse of Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Could you tell us about the Kentucky Artisan Center and its mission?

Segment Synopsis: The Kentucky Artisan Center promotes Kentucky’s creative artists by showcasing and selling their works. It is also a traveler center, telling visitors all about the great places to visit in Kentucky, offering hospitality, and wonderful cuisine in the Artisan Café.

Keywords: Kentucky Artisan Center

Subjects: art; Artists; heritage; history; Kentucky; tourism; travel

Partial Transcript: Was it automatically obvious about how the Artisan Center was going to be involved in the 225 Commemoration?

Segment Synopsis: Heffner comments that the Artisan Center definitely wanted to have an exhibit that showcased artists' work. The artists responded with pieces that reflected the most compelling thing about Kentucky's 225 years of history from their perspective. They received many submissions from a variety of places and time periods. Really successful. She discusses the various artists and mediums involved in the exhibit. She states that the traveler's reactions to this exhibit were really positive, and quoted one visitor as saying, "After seeing this exhibit, I feel like I traveled through Kentucky's history."

Subjects: art; Artists; commemorations; exhibit; heritage; history; Kentucky; tourism; travel

Partial Transcript: Tell us about the "Birthday Party" event you held here for the celebration of Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Heffner wanted Damon Farmer to come to the Artisan Center to create a sand sculpture. Farmer usually does one for the City of Berea for the Fourth of July. The Artisan Center wanted the sculpture to reflect various aspects of Kentucky, and the artist was really successful in capturing the essence of Kentucky. The Governor’s Office made a video during the event. Kentucky Artisan Center Executive Director Todd Finley, Cabinet Deputy Secretary Regina Stivers and Commissioner of Travel and Tourism Kristen Branscum attended, and Kentucky Poet Laureate Frederick Smock attended and read some of his poetry. Served birthday cake and cheeseburgers - the cheeseburger was invented in Kentucky.

Subjects: art; Artists; commemorations; heritage; history; Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What do you think the outcome of the Commission has been for the Artisan Center?

Segment Synopsis: A lot of agencies that worked together that do not always work together. It was nice to have those partnerships, because many agencies tend to get insular - and they need to share information regularly. Seemed like a good step to build relationships with "like-minded" people.

Partial Transcript: Tell us a little bit about your previous lives before you came to the Artisan Center?

Segment Synopsis: Heffner graduated with a ceramics degree, went to graduate school at the University of Louisville. She then worked as a potter, and specialized in porcelain. She started a gallery in Berea, Kentucky, where she represented artists nationwide, and curated exhibits. She has always been interested in working with people, and other forms of art outside of pottery. When she came to the Artisan Center, the job incorporated all the work that she was passionate about doing, and left out all the things she did not find interesting about running a gallery.

Keywords: Kentucky Artisan Center; University of Louisville

Subjects: Art; artists

Partial Transcript: What makes Kentucky, Kentucky that is something to be proud of?

Segment Synopsis: Heffner states she is proud of Kentucky because of its people and its history. She states that Kentucky has always been kind of a crossroads; it has beautiful landscapes. She states that pride, and the cultivation and preservation of its culture makes Kentucky, Kentucky. She came to Kentucky as a "campfire girl". Decided from that camping trip that she wanted to live in Kentucky.

Keywords: Kentucky

Subjects: culture; landscapes

Partial Transcript: What makes Kentucky challenging?

Segment Synopsis: Heffner states that the disparity of our people - from the very rich to the very poor, is both a national and state-wide problem. She states that we must care about things beyond ourselves, and must recognize our value - the personal value of every single Kentuckian.

Partial Transcript: What do you think Kentucky needs to do in the next 20 years to be the best Kentucky it can be?

Segment Synopsis: Heffner believes we have great natural resources, but Kentucky needs to look to its people more. She states that Kentucky is a very natural crossroads, it is halfway between Canada and Florida and is the "heart-center" of the the eastern quadrant of our country. This natural crossroads is great for travel, interest, and progress. But Kentuckians have terrible stereotypes. Heffner believes that every stereotype holds a kernel of truth - and she wants Kentucky to look at the kernels of truth, and find ways to progress upon them. She believes Kentucky needs progress in education, and it needs to fill the gap in the disparity between the extremes in both poverty and education. Heffner states Kentucky should not just look to technology, but needs to look to its people for problem solving; we're running out of other resources. She believes creativity and the arts are critical to problem solving.

Partial Transcript: Do you have anything that you would like to add?

Segment Synopsis: Heffner believes that 225 moved the Artisan Center outside of its building boundaries the with a sculpture out front, and showcased something that everyone could relate to. They're still looking to expand on what the Artisan Center can do. Heffner and the director of the Artisan Center have noticed that makers and artists are aging across the state. They see the need to train the younger generation. They do not want those skills to be lost.