As one of the first mediums in craft, the skill and mastery of wood has evolved into a celebrated material that members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild will showcase on Saturday, August 6, 10-4pm. Woodworkers will demonstrate and share their working processes with visitors at the Folk Art Center.

This free event not only educates the public on the rigors and talent that goes into woodworking, but serves the mission of the Guild in preserving a longtime culture and heritage.

Wood has multiple sources, such as branches, trunks, roots and even bark; all are used in both function and decoration.

Its earliest forms were generated for basic living, as a means of shelter or protection. Pieces of Egyptian furniture from around 2500 BC survive as literal examples of peoples ability to create objects of beauty from wood.

Being one of Appalachia’s indigenous resources, trees formed items for the early settlers of this region, such as tables, chairs, bowls, coopered barrels, as well as wagons and homes.

Over time, woodwork transitioned into a leisure activity through whittling and carving.

One of the newest members of the Guild, Valerie Berlage, adds a flair of whimsy to this functional craft by incorporating paint through layers to texturize her work.

“As a child, I helped my grandfather in his woodworking shop, and also painted and learned traditional Southern handcrafts from my grandmothers,” says Berlage.

The knowledge and skill passed on through generations has transformed through her own interpretation of wood with modernization. “My art has gone through several transitions over the years, but it has remained rooted in my relationship with my loved ones.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn multiple processes, such as carving, flute making, turning, and more. Southern Highland Craft Guild member Ronnie McMahan and the Western North Carolina Carvers will be teaching participants on bars of soap with spoons and other tools.

Wood Day, Auguats 6, 10-4pm. Southern Highland Craft Guild at the Folk Art Center. For more information call (828) 298-7928 or visit www.craftguild.org/woodday.  Admission to Wood Day and the Folk Art Center is free. The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville.