[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16362-16363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING GEORGE BERRY, SR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the craftsmanship 
of George Berry, Sr.
  George's life has been dedicated to woodcarving. This interest began 
at a young age and developed into a lifelong pursuit. His artwork 
displays a passion for nature, particularly the wildlife of 
Mississippi.
  George has not only been committed to his art, but also to sharing 
his gifts through teaching. He has become an important fixture within 
the local art community in Mississippi, and he has been recognized both 
within this community and outside of it with several distinguished 
awards. Through his passion for art and education, George Berry, Sr. 
has made a tremendous impact on many Mississippians and others 
throughout this country.

[[Page 16363]]

  George was born in Vinita, Oklahoma; and at the age of 6, George was 
taught woodcarving by his father. He moved to Mississippi in 1972 to 
teach industrial arts at the Piney Woods School, a historically African 
American boarding school located in Rankin County, Mississippi. A year 
later, he became a charter member of the Craftsmen's Guild of 
Mississippi, a program created to promote folk art within the State.
  After retiring from Piney Woods in 1984, George Berry has dedicated a 
majority of his time to woodcarving. Even so, he continues to spend a 
great deal of his time teaching others. George teaches weekly classes 
for the Mississippi Craftsmen's Guild and frequently instructs students 
at the Allison Wells School of Arts and Crafts in Canton, Mississippi. 
Additionally, he has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 
Brasstown, North Carolina.
  George Berry's preference in style is reflected in his large body of 
work. His realistic depictions of nature are the constant theme in his 
artwork. In particular, many of his wood pieces represent Mississippi 
wildlife with works such as catfish, deer, and hunting dogs. Beautiful 
sculptures of leaves and birds are other staples of his artwork. His 
skillful craft is a demonstration of the grace and rustic beauty that 
is found in nature.
  This Mississippi craftsman has been recognized with many awards and 
honors. George Berry received a Folk Artist Fellowship from the 
Mississippi Arts Commission in 1999. In 2002, he was presented with the 
prestigious Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The 
Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi awarded him with their Lifetime 
Achievement Award in 2009. On October 18 of this year, I had the 
privilege of speaking at the celebration of the opening of the George 
Berry, Sr. Gallery of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi, joining 
hundreds of family and friends in honoring George.
  In addition to these awards, George Berry's work has been on display 
at several major festivals, including the Mississippi Arts Festival, 
Festival USA on the Strand, the Festival of Pennsylvania Folklife 
Bicentennial, and the Mississippi pavilion at the world's fair. His 
carved wood sculptures are on exhibit in a number of museums, including 
the Old Capital Museum in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Museum of 
Natural Science.
  George has been featured in many national and regional publications, 
such as Southern Living and Mississippi Outdoors. These many accolades 
are a testament to this gifted artist.
  So again, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to 
congratulate and recognize Mr. George Berry, Sr. on his achievements as 
both an artist and as a teacher. For more than 50 years, George has 
used his God-given gift as a skillful craftsman to make beautiful 
pieces of art. Today, he continues to graciously share his knowledge 
and skill with many others.

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