Internationally Acclaimed Brasstown Carver, Helen Gibson, at The Art Center
On March 10th, 2026, The Blue Ridge Carvers and the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association were honored to welcome Helen Gibson for a one-day workshop. Helen Gibson is currently the resident carver at The John C. Campbell Folk School. She has received national and international acclaim for her contribution to cultural heritage preservation. In 2025, Helen was the recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council’s Heritage Award in 2025. Helen began carving around the age of eleven. Her mother and Mrs. Martin were among her first teachers. Since then, Helen has become one of the most prolific carvers in the Southeast. Helen is renowned for her nativity scenes and her intricate carving style. She has written several books on the Brasstown style of carving and regularly teaches classes at the Folk School.
Helen Gibson is one of the few official Brasstown Carvers. Being honored with this title is no easy feat- the process involves hours of practice and passing tests administered by the John C. Cambell Folk School. The Brasstown Carvers were founded sometime in the 1930’s at The Folk School. Their distinctive style is unique to the region, which includes the use of historic animal patterns, passed down by previous generations of carvers. John Thomas and Reid Carney (leaders of the Blue Ridge Carvers) stated that Brasstown carving techniques are different from ones that are typically employed in Northeast Georgia. However, Reid has taken several classes with Helen and learned greatly from her approach to carving. He figured that students at the Center would benefit greatly from her expertise. This extends beyond the carving. As he put it,” it is an honor just to sit in the classroom and to listen to her stories”.
Prior to the class, Helen asked the Blue Ridge Carvers what they would like to study. The group decided that they would like to learn the techniques she incorporates when crafting her famous nativity scenes. Helen arrived at the workshop with her tools and “blanks” of Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus. These blanks are pieces of wood, pre-cut into Brasstown patterns. Students who were interested could purchase the blanks and work on the pattern during the class.
A special aspect of Helen’s classes is that she spends one-on-one time with each participant. Each student receives individualized instruction that is tailored to their needs. In this hands-on approach, students can ask questions and expand on their previous knowledge through practice. The students stated that her conversational style, full of charm and wit, made the class highly enjoyable.
The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and the Blue Ridge Carvers would like to thank Helen for spending an afternoon at the Center and sharing her wealth of knowledge with the community. We hope to have her back for another workshop soon, one that is open to the public. Please check our website for more information and updates.
Sources:
Barber, J. (2025, June 9). 2025 N.C. Heritage Award Honoree, Helen Gibson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxNTmqA8Ovw
Grand, R. (2020, September 1). The house that carving built. THE BITTER SOUTHERNER. https://bittersoutherner.com/2020/the-house-that-carving-built-brasstown-carvers-john-c-campbell-folk-school
John C. Campbell Folk School. (2024, July 23). Brasstown carvers: Keeping a tradition alive. JCCFS. https://www.folkschool.org/2024/07/23/brasstown-carvers-keeping-a-tradition-alive/
Western Carolina University. (n.d.). Helen Gibson. Craft revival: Shaping western North Carolina past and present. https://www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections/CraftRevival/people/helengibson.html
Further Reading:
Gibson, H., & Congdon-Martin, D. (1992). Carving the nativity with Helen Gibson. Schiffer Pub.
John C. Campbell Folk School. (1990). The Brasstown carvers: John C. Campbell folk school.
