'Mommy Goose' and Other UPK Books in Spotlight at Kentucky Crafted

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 29, 2016) — The University Press of Kentucky (UPK) returns this weekend to one of Kentucky's premier arts events, Kentucky Crafted: The Market, with a varied selection of new publications including one particularly fitting for the event celebrating the state's artists. “Mommy Goose: Rhymes from the Mountains,” is a one-of-kind nursery rhyme book featuring the art of two of the state's most popular folk artists.

The signature event of the Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Crafted is produced each year to showcase the highest quality art, craft, literature, music, film and food found in the state. More than 200 Kentucky Crafted and select out-of-state artists, musicians and artisanal food producers make their finest work available to wholesale buyers and the general public during the three-day event.

Buyers have the rare opportunity at the market to place orders directly with producers of Kentucky traditional and contemporary fine art and craft, as well as publishers of Kentucky-related books, such as Mike Norris’ “Mommy Goose,” illustrated by Minnie Adkins.

“Mommy Goose” is a piece of American heritage with a collection of 50 original nursery rhymes celebrating Appalachian tradition and speech and is designed to engage young children with a series of simple and often humorous verses that gradually become more challenging as the book progresses. Readers can advance to longer, more complex rhymes as their skills develop — at home or with the guidance of teachers. Featuring sheet music for the original song “Tell me, Mommy Goose,” this multidimensional book is certain to entertain while introducing a new generation to hallowed folk traditions.

Mike Norris is a native of eastern Kentucky who has been writing stories, poems and songs for more than 40 years. He worked as the director of communications for Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, for many years, where he also performed as a folk musician. He has written two other children’s books, “Sonny the Monkey” and “Bright Blue Rooster,” both of which were illustrated by Adkins.

Minnie Adkins is a folk artist with permanent collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Gallery of Art, the American Folk Art Museum, the Huntington Museum of Art and the Kentucky Folk Art Center. Adkins, who has been called "the most important female wood carver in the history of American folk art” by Matt Collinsworth, director of the Kentucky Folk Art Center, has won the Kentucky Arts Council's Artist Award honoring lifetime achievement in the arts. She has contributed essays to numerous collections on folk art and crafts.

Kentucky is one of a few states in the nation to sponsor a show of this kind for its art and craft businesses. Its 34-year tradition of excellence has not gone unnoticed. Kentucky Crafted was named the number one fair and festival in the country four times by readers of AmericanStyle magazine. The Southeast Tourism Society has named it a top 20 event for 15 years.

UPK is the scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, representing a consortium that now includes all of the state universities, five private colleges and two historical societies. The editorial program of the press focuses on the humanities and the social sciences. Offices for the administrative, editorial, production and marketing departments of the press are found at University of Kentucky, which provides financial support toward the operating expenses of the publishing operation.

Kentucky Crafted will take place 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 5, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Lexington Convention Center. One-day tickets are $10 and two-day tickets are $15. Children 15 and under are admitted for free. For more information on Kentucky Crafted, visit http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/Event_Market.htm. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu