Photo of Wesley Page. Used with permission.
By KATLAN THOMERSON
Glasgow News 1
Artist Wesley Page of Glasgow was recently juried into the Kentucky Crafted Market program for the second time.
The Kentucky Crafted Market is an annual event organized by the Kentucky Arts Council that showcases high-quality visual and crafts artists from Kentucky. This year’s market will be at the Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena in Lexington in March 8-10. The first day of the event is only open to wholesale buyers. The other two days are open to the public for free and will feature live music in addition to more than 200 artist vendors.
“It’s a great program for people who are serious about their work,” Page said. “It opens up the potential for wholesale buyers as well as retail customers and ultimately helps artists market their goods and get their name out there.”
Page is a woodcraftsman with roughly 25 years of experience. He credits Cox Interiors Inc. of Bowling Green as being what introduced him to woodworking.
“I didn’t realize that I had woodworking skills or that I even enjoyed it,” he said.
During his first attempt at being juried into the market, Page submitted jewelry boxes.
“They weren’t up to their standards,” he said.
Though Page wasn’t accepted into the program, he continued his work.
“One day my wife asked for a cutting board, so I came up with a creative way of making cutting boards and that was the second time that I applied,” Page said.
An example of Wesley Page’s cutting boards. Photo courtesy of Wesley Page.
Shortly after being accepted into the Kentucky Crafted Market for cutting boards, Page went overseas for missionary work. He spent eight years in China and two years in Thailand. Upon returning in 2022, he settled down in Bowling Green and obtained a job as a transporter for Refuge BG.
Outside of shuttling children to school, Page continues to perfect his craft. This year, he was accepted into the Kentucky Crafted Market for his wooden earrings.
“The jewelry came about as a way to use up my smaller pieces,” Page said.
Wooden jewelry made by Wesley Page is pictured. Facebook page. Photo courtesy of Wesley Page’s Facebook page.
In addition to submitting his jewelry for the market, Page has sold 72 pairs of earrings to the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea, is working toward securing a sale with Completely Kentucky in Frankfort, hopes to open an Etsy page, and is attempting to be added to Amazon Handmade.
Those who want to keep track of Page’s progress are encouraged to check out his Facebook Page WesleyPageFineWoodCrafts.
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