Biographical Sketch of Minnie Adkins

Minnie Adkins was born March 13, 1934, a daughter of John and Mona Skaggs Wooldridge. She attended Brack Adkins Elementary School and Sandy Hook High School in Elliott County. On June 11th, 1952 she married Garland Linville Adkins, the son of Alonza and Arla Lewis Adkins. They had one son Micheal Curtis, born June 26, 1954.

Like so many other families in Eastern KY, they moved to Ohio where work could be found. They lived in the Fairborn area for about 15 years. When the coal boom happened here Minnie and Garland moved back home and Garland went to work driving a loader on a strip mine. Minnie's rise to fame in the world of folk art began in 1987 during one of the many trips she and Garland made to the Unemployment Office in Morehead. At the time Adrian Swain owned a local Art Gallery on Main St. in Morehead and often displayed work in the store front and sidewalk area where it could be seen by passersby.

Intrigued by the work, Minnie and Garland stopped in to satisfy their curiosity. Seeing the type of work on display led Minnie to discuss her own woodcarving hobby with Swain. He encouraged her to bring some of her carvings in to the gallery to show. He began to sell her work and introduced her to folk art dealer, Larry Hackley and others. The rest of the story speaks for itself. Minnie suddenly found herself with more work than she could handle, so Garland joined in. For more than a decade Garland and Minnie worked together on creating some of the most unique and sought after pieces of art work in the country.

The neatest thing was that they didn't keep their good fortune to themselves. They became the driving force behind a folk art movement in this area. Minnie has been instrumental in introducing many local and area artists to the world of folk art. Her unending efforts to promote folk art and her Appalachian heritage and culture in a positive manner has not gone undetected. For almost 20 years Minnie has been the subject of many reviews, interviews, articles and shows. She has had and continues to have her work displayed in museums, galleries, shows, and in private and permanet collections throughout the United States and abroad. Minnie has shared herself and her work through formal and informal presentations from the elementary to the college level and from local to national organizations. She has also been the recipient of numerous awards including the first Jane Morton Norton Award in 1992 presented by Centre College for extraordinary achievement in the arts, an East Kentucky Leadership Outstanding Culture/ Art Award in April 1993, The Folk Art Society of America's Annual Award of Distinction for always giving a helping hand and for her contribution to American Art and Culture in November 1993, Morehead State University's Appalachian Treasure Award in 1994, and the 1997 Governor's Artist Award from Governor Paul Patton, the Commonwealth's highest honor for an artist. Along with this award Minnie was also recognized by both the House and Senate with a citation and resolution.

Garland passed away on Nov. 6, 1997 after a long battle with cancer. Inseperable for a lifetime of love and labor, Minnie found it very hard to continue the work that had brought them so much joy together. However Minnie felt compelled to finish what they had started. Minnie said, " Life goes on and I know this is what Garland would have wanted me to do." Her most recent endeavors include a diversification of her artwork and collaboration with artist Tess Little on beautiful pottery pieces and woven coverlets, and with singer, songwriter Mike Norris on the whimsical children's book, " Bright Blue Rooster". Minnie also continues her folk art painting, wood sculpture (carvings), quilts and helping others all she can. She still hosts a gathering of artists, dealers, collectors, admirers, and onlookers at her annual "Folk Art Day In The Country" held at her home on the last Saturday in June.

Perhaps a summation of Minnie's work and fame as a folk artist can best be described by the words she used in her acceptance of the Governor's Award for the Arts, "... most of all, I wanted to thank God for any talent that I have, it comes through and by him."