January 22 – April 7, 2021

A juried exhibition of work by alumni of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship opened at the Messler Gallery in Rockport, Maine on Friday, January 22. The show is open to the public through April 7, 2021.

The 22 pieces of original, contemporary woodwork on display were winnowed from 85 submissions. They encompass a surprisingly wide range of categories, from functional furniture to figurative sculpture, and include decorative vessels, suspended lighting, precious boxes, and small brushes. For Messler Gallery Director Victoria Allport, being in the room with “Alumni and Fellows” provides a welcome respite from the isolation of the pandemic. “Each piece speaks with the voice of its maker, sharing their curiosity, ambitions, skills, private obsessions, and public concerns.”

Jurors for the exhibition were Tib Shaw from St. Paul, MN, who is Curator at the American Association of Woodturners, Josh Vogel from Kingston, NY, who is a designer, maker, and founder of Black Creek Mercantile & Trading Co., and Jeremy Zietz from Oakland, CA, who is a principal designer at Steelcase.

The exhibitors in “Alumni and Fellows” are a mixture of professional and avocational woodworkers from across the U.S. who have previously participated in the Center’s courses or its Fellowship program. They include Nick Barboza (Hampden, ME), Greg Bruck (Bedford, OH), Sam Cotton (Hope, ME), Erik Curtis (Philadelphia, PA), Kate Davidson (Milton, MA), Aspen Golann (Bakersville, NC), Duncan Gowdy (Holden, MA), Owain Harris (Center Barnstead, NH), Matthew Hedgepath Smith (Austin, TX), Jamie Herman (Fairport, NY), Anna Hitchcock (Little Compton, NY), Sayer Houseal (Antarctica), R.D. Johnson (Vienna, VA), Alan Kalker (Madison, WI), Kathleen Kilanowski (San Francisco, CA), Sergey Levchin (Brooklyn, NY), Steve Miller (Black Mountain, NC), George Partal (Bangor, ME), John Scanlan (Cleveland, OH), Emma Senft (Madison, WI), Julann Troiano (Chamberlain, ME), and Chelsea Witt (Rockport, ME).

Nick Barboza | Hampden, ME. Capoano Bench, 2020. Cherry. NFS. 34" x 77" x 29".

Nick Barboza

Greg Bruck | Bedford, OH. Mosaic Pattern Jewelry Box, 2017. Baltic birch, mixed veneers (cherry, padauk, maple, babinga), Gabon ebony. $500. 4.75" x 10.5" x 5.5".

Greg Bruck

Sam Cotton | Hope, ME. Stalk Cellaret, 2018. Black walnut, cedar, glass. $3,800. 45" x 34" x 18.25".

Sam Cotton

Erik Curtis | Philadelphia, PA. The Importance of Physical Touch in an Age of Digital Relationships, 2019. Walnut. $2,800. 27" x 36" x 18".

Erik Curtis

Kate Davidson | Milton, MA. Goldfish Desk, 2018. Red birch, red birch veneer, cherry, cherry ply, MDF. NFS. 31" x 55" x 30".

Kate Davidson

Aspen Golann | Bakersville, NC. Striped Brush Trio, 2020. Bleached maple, ebonized maple, black tampico. $500. 3.5-6” x 2.5” x .5”.

Aspen Golann

Duncan Gowdy | Holden, MA. Style M, 2018. Walnut, brass. $2,500. 60" x 48" x 4.5".

Duncan Gowdy

Owain Harris | Center Barnstead, NH. Textured Demilune, 2019. Walnut, eucalyptus. $4,500. 41" x 30" x 12.5".

Owain Harris

Matthew Hedgepath Smith | Austin, TX. Keepsake Box, 2020. Walnut, ebony, brass, foam, wool felt. $500. 3.25" x 4.875" x 6.5".

Matthew Hedgepath Smith

Jamie Herman | Fairport, NY. Cross Lamps #2-4, 2018. Ash veneer, cherry, fiberglass. $400 each. 19" x 7" x 7".

Jamie Herman

Anna Hitchcock | Little Compton, RI. Let Go!, 2018. Basswood, oil paint/inseed oil stain. $18,000. 52" x 25" x 8".

Anna Hitchcock

Sayer Houseal | Antarctica. Duck Hunt Longboards, 2020. Maple veneer board, assorted veneer image, paint, wax. $550 each. 36" x 10".

Sayer Houseal

R.D. Johnson | Vienna, VA. Man vs. Nature, 2020. Walnut. $3,200. 58" x 16" x 2.5".

R.D. Johnson

Alan Kalker | Madison, WI. Stained Glass Wine Cabinet, 2020. Cherry, assorted exotic woods. $3,600. 60" x 22" x 15.5".

Alan Kalker

Kathleen Kilanowski | San Francisco, CA. Lily Table, 2016. Sapele, hard maple. NFS. 36" x 24" x 24"

Kathleen Kilanowski

Sergey Levchin | Brooklyn, NY. Stealthy Secretary, 2020. Sapele with ebony detail. $7,253. 30" x 54" x 32".

Sergey Levchin

Steve Miller | Black Mountain, NC. Coral Reef Vessel, 2020. Maple, India ink, acrylic paint. $5,500. 12” x 11” dia.

Steve Miller

George Partal, MD | Bangor, ME. Fortified Armor, 2020. Locally harvested oak, pyrography, Pebeo guilding waxes, acrylic paint, gold and silver foil. $499. 11" x 9" dia.

George Partal, MD

John Scanlan | Cleveland, OH. You Are Here, 2018. Kerf and steam bent walnut, glass. $2,690. 18" x 29" x 15.5".

John Scanlan

Emma Senft | Madison, WI. Extended Leg, 2019. Willow, wood bleach, pigmented oil. $1,050. 22" x 25" x 2".

Emma Senft

Julann Troiano | Chamberlain, ME. Floating Forever, 2020. Maple, epoxy, flowers, foliage, shells. NFS. 3.5" x 8" dia.

Julann Troiano

Chelsea Witt | Rockport, ME. Precarious, 2020. Beech, ink. $650. 24.5” x 12” x 12”.

Chelsea Witt

Virtual Tour Alumni & Fellows 2021