April 20 – May 27, 2026
“Current Student Work” opened at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine, on Monday, April 20. The exhibition, which runs through May 27, features furniture and furnishings by students in the school’s flagship Nine-month Comprehensive course.
Renowned furniture maker Philip Morley took the reins as Lead Instructor of the Comprehensive this year and reflects, “As my first year as Lead Instructor, it’s been a particularly meaningful experience. I’ve been genuinely impressed by the students’ commitment to both the material and the process. We had twelve students come from across the country, each dedicating nine months of their lives to this program—a level of commitment that feels increasingly rare, and one that gives me real confidence in the future of the craft. They’ve done a brilliant job of bringing together solid training, thoughtful design, and real passion to produce work that feels considered, confident, and quietly distinctive.” Executive Director Matt Hoggle adds, “First stepping into the gallery to see the students’ work collected and displayed each spring is one of the highlights of our year. Their many days, nights, and weekends of hard work overcome the hesitation and self-doubt that all makers feel, leaving us with this breadth of remarkable furniture to view, touch, and examine. The work that now fills the gallery is a testament to its makers, to Phil’s outstanding work in his first year as Lead, and to the many co-instructors who shaped them into the makers they’ve become.”
Coming from backgrounds in construction, tech, architecture, aerospace, military service, and more, this year’s exhibitors are Melike Basköylü from New York, Tricia Becker from Washington, Andy Bower from Minnesota, Brian Carroll from Michigan, Evonne Davis from New York, Todd Dewars from Washington, Josiah Marble from Indiana, Michael Melvin from Illinois, Andrew Orne from Maine, Caroline Schweyer from New York, Steven Spencer from California, and Micheal Swinson from North Carolina.
