Jerry and River Lovenstein

Jerry and River Lovenstein are third-generation tradition bearers carrying forward the art of handcrafted broom making through their family business, Grassy Creek Brooms, near Mountain View, Arkansas. Working with broomcorn, sassafras, and hand tools inspired by the nineteenth century, they create functional works of art that honor generations of Ozark craftsmanship while continually evolving the tradition through their own creative voices.

Jerry first learned broom making through an apprenticeship at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in the late 1970s before establishing Grassy Creek Brooms with his wife, Judy, on their homestead along Grassy Creek. For nearly five decades, the family has preserved traditional hand-tied broom-making techniques rooted in Shaker and Puritan traditions while building one of Arkansas’s most respected craft legacies.

River represents the next generation of makers, continuing the family tradition while bringing his own artistic perspective to the work. Together, Jerry and River demonstrate how folk traditions remain vibrant when they are shared across generations, adapting to contemporary life while staying deeply connected to place, family, and the enduring value of making useful objects by hand.