I want to tell you about Tamarack. Frankly, I don’t know why every state and province on this continent doesn’t have its own Tamarack. I stop here every time I take this particular highway – which isn’t often, but enough that I’ve been here a half dozen times. Tamarack is “the showplace of West Virginia”. It is located on I 64, the West Virginia toll road, at Beckley in the southern part of the state. Why it is where it is, I have no idea. I don’t think this is the most travelled route in America by a longshot, but here sits Tamarack and it’s a busy place.

It’s built in a circle, as you’ll see, around a central core,an outdoor gathering place. I’m not sure how many acres of ground are here, but there are sculptures everywhere, and most of them, like pretty much everything else here, is for sale.

Tamarack is a project of the West Virginia Department of Highways, but is the show place for the creators of all types of things from all over West Virginia- art, furniture, food, quilts, and more. The place is administered by a board of trustees made up of the artists and artisans themselves. While it is a project of a state department, the state has a very hands-off approach to this celebration of everything West Virginia.

The following 4 pictures will give you a sense of the interior; it’s a nice circular walk through what I suppose I would call various departments, but really, just a nice walk! The last picture is of the food court you can see dely, Grill, bakery-the foods of West Virginia. Right nearby, you can also buy jams, jellies, honey, salsas, dips and quite frankly I’m not sure what else. But I do know I have three new jars of condiment now in my own home! Then there are the quilts… and the sculptures! The following greet you, at least greeted me, entering the main doors of Tamarack. It’s impressive work.Now, all I have shown you so far is merchandising, and that I think is one of the three essences of Tamarack – craftsmanship, a celebration of the arts, and the marketing of that work. But there’s so much more than just going into Tamarack, walking around, maybe having lunch, taking a break from the highway, etc. There are eight studios on the premises where real artisans and craft people from around West Virginia demonstrate their work. As you can see, the studios are recessed; they feature expansive glass fronts were visitors can look down into the studio and watch crafts people at work. Greg and Tish Westman were the only craft people working when I was there, but it was a Wednesday; I do know the studios are much busier on the weekends, artisans showcasing what they do to bigger crowds. In some cases members of the public are invited in to try their hand at for instance, glassblowing. There are classes, too. It’s just fascinates me!Another example of what they do at Tamarack,  but this is fairly new, is a youth showcase. A coordinator has reached out to students at virtually every high school in West Virginia and invited students to submit work to be juried and displayed. This is a very small segment of that; installation was just underway when I was there, and I was particularly drawn to this self portrait by a 16-year-old. Talk about showcasing the talent that the state has; but wait, there’s more!One of the things that keeps me at Tamarack longer than I should be – because I’m usually on my way to a barbeque competition when I stop here – is the art gallery. Again this is art from all over West Virginia, but only West Virginia! It’s a simply amazing aggregation of painting, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, glass and so much more. I love this gallery, and of course, it’s different every time I’m here! From sculpture, to wines, and all the rest, I fall in love with Tamarack every time I’m here. Now if you’re still with me, here’s the point: wherever you are reading this, I think your question should be, “Why doesn’t our state/province have one of these?” Oh sure, many cities and towns have their own celebrations. We have the artist co-op in Owen Sound and of course a remarkable municipal art gallery. And many, many communities enjoyed the same.

But this is a celebration of the state, writ large! For instance, I could see something like this being created in the Niagara Peninsula, not necessarily right at Fort Erie or Niagara Falls, but perhaps someplace along the Corredor between the border and, say, Hamilton. A show place, a celebration. I think there are artists and artisans and more where ever you are, who are off down those back roads, what in the hills, away from the light, who are producing stunning, remarkable work… and who knows it unless they stop bye? Unless there’s word-of-mouth? I know our county has produced a map for an artisans’ tour, but they deserve more.

I believe these creators deserve this kind of brighter, more powerful limelight. State and provincial governments would surely have to have a hand in what happens, but as I noted above, this place is self governed to a very large degree. But there is one more small issue, even with that:

Tamarack is operating at a deficit. I was stunned when I heard that; but while I was looking for some evidence of a hatchet that might fall, what I found was an uncommon chorus of voices lamenting the deficit but absolutely certain in their core belief that nothing should ever happen to Tamarack. I believe it has operated profitably in the past; I think the deficit situation is fairly recent and I certainly see no evidence that Tamarack’s future is threatened.

It’s a show place. It’s a celebration. It’s a market. It’s a rest stop. It’s beautiful…at least I hope you find it so. It’s Tamarack – the best of West Virginia. I wanted you to see it. I just want one to celebrate my own neighbours who produce in such remarkable ways!