“Broom Thing” sweeps across borders as a symbol of Berea’s Craft legacy and global reach
July 2, 2025
BEREA, KY. – It’s a unique object created by Berea College Student Craft in collaboration with internationally known designer Stephen Burks.
A large sphere made of approximately 1,500 pieces of broomcorn, sometimes dyed in a variety of colors, the piece is meant to celebrate the creative power of the Berea College student.
It’s a piece of art called “Broom Thing.”
And now, it is being displayed at museums not only across the country, but around the world.
“Over the past several years, all of us here at Student Craft have been proud to have the work of our students exhibited at some of the finest museums in the country, and this summer, even around the world,” said Aaron Beale, associate vice president of Student Craft at Berea College.
“Broom Thing” is currently on display at the Venice Biennale, an international cultural exhibition hosted every other year in Venice, Italy. Another Student Craft piece, Spruce, is also on display in Italy.
“With these new works in Venice - Spruce in ebonized oak and Broom Thing in natural sorghum - we wanted to showcase the honest materials and diverse traditions of making in the American South,” Burks said of the pieces in Italy. “Our ongoing partnership with Berea College continues to express what is possible when tradition collides with radical craft experimentation.”
Beale agrees that the intersection of traditional and modern craft is what’s helping catch the eye of others across the world.
“Broom Thing” reflects not only Berea College’s commitment to craft, but its willingness to experiment with new forms of craft while honoring traditional techniques,” Beale. “It, as well as the other objects being made in the program today, tells the story of Berea and Student Craft in a way that hasn’t been seen before.
“To know that Berea College Student Craft is represented in Italy is incredibly meaningful,” Beale added.
“Broom Thing” and a special broom, “Grab a Broom with Me,” are featured in the new city of Berea Event Center. “Grab a Broom with Me” was created by Hunter Elliott, director of fellowships at Berea College.
“I think it’s important because it symbolizes the partnership and the path that we’ve walked together with the city of Berea and Berea College,” said Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley. “It’s also important to symbolize the student craft industry that was part of the Appalachian culture that came with the founding of Berea, and that has become our tradition where Berea is now the arts and crafts capitol of Kentucky. I think it’s important to celebrate that and make sure we have a symbol that represents that partnership over the years.”
Each “Broom Thing” is handmade using broomcorn and other traditional materials, continuing Berea’s legacy as one of the few places in the country where students learn to craft brooms by hand. While the sculpture may look whimsical or surreal, its foundation is rooted in labor-intensive craftsmanship and deep respect for the cultural traditions of the Appalachian region.
Traditions that are now on display to the world.
“All of the pieces that have been featured at museums…show just how far Berea College students’ works can take them and how respected the work of Berea College is at venues all around the world,” Beale added. “For me, it’s nice to know that there are products that were made by hand, in Berea, by Berea Student Craft that are literally all over the world and all over the United States, and I think that really symbolizes the importance of Berea College not just to our region and to Kentucky, but to the nation,” Fraley added. “There are Berea College students all over the world that have been very successful. Having the art around signifying the beauty of Berea and the strength of Berea very much symbolizes what the importance of the College is to our region and beyond.”