Interview with Buck Jackson, Melissa Jackson, November 29, 2011

Interview Summary

Buck and Melissa Jackson each describe how they became involved in crafting, Melissa in jewelry-making and Buck in woodworking with a chainsaw. Melissa Jackson talks about her studio in the Pendleton Art Center and describes some of the other artists who have studios there. She explains how the Center's hours work, and some of the challenges of opening a studio including the costs of the studio, the lack of funds for advertising, and problems with the building. Buck and Melissa talk about their missionary work building churches in places like Africa, Haiti, and Brazil. Buck talks about how he learned to make Christmas trees with a chainsaw from his friend Joe Salyers and explains the pricing for the trees they sell. They talk about the cost of time and materials that go into making a craft and how their prices often do not reflect those costs. They talk about why they sometimes want and need to give their work away.

Interview Keyword

Pendleton Art Center Ashland (Ky.) Prices Lampwork beads Chainsaws Woodworking Missionary work Catlettsburg (Ky.) Quality control

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Appalachian Region--Economic conditions Handicraft--Appalachian Region Handicraft--Kentucky Jackson, Buck Jackson, Buck--Interviews Jackson, Melissa Jackson, Melissa--Interviews Employment--Kentucky Artists. Arts and crafts. Handicraft. Entrepreneurship Small business--Kentucky Small business--Ownership Artists--Economic conditions. Artists--Social conditions. Tourism.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.