Lonnie and Twyla Money
I visited the couple two years ago while touring Berea, a town that could easily take the title of Folk Art Capital of the U.S., and the surrounding area. While the whirligigs and sculptures outside the Money house signal something good going on inside, there’s no way to imagine the joy that sits just inside their front door.
Together, Lonnie and Twyla create some of the most charming sculptures you’ll ever come across. Even their chickens have big personalities. Could be the polka dots. But charming as they are, the Money pieces are also highly prized (yet, to my great delight, fairly priced) art. Museums have them. Collectors clamor for them.
I think the magic may come from the joy the Moneys take in creating each piece. A bit of laughter punctuates almost every sentence when they talk about their work. Then again, how could you not have fun when your life’s work is creating howling hound dogs, stick lizards, and spotted toothy pigs?
But their humor doesn’t just apply to the finished products. Lonnie’s even got a sense of humor–blended with true Kentucky ingenuity–in his workshop. Once upon a time he was on the hunt for a good way to store all the wooden pieces he carves. How would he keep the chicken legs from getting mixed in with the dog ears? His solution? Pants bags. He bought big pants cheap and sewed them up to create bags. To borrow a line from Martha, it’s a good thing. And one more reason the Moneys are pure gold.
Wish I would have stopped by when I was in Berea recently!
They’re the perfect reason to make a return trip to the area!