January 18 – April 10, 2019

A lively exhibition of artist-made urns and coffins in wood, Boxes to Die For, will be on display at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, in Rockport, ME, from January 18 – April 10, 2019.

“Death turns out to be a fertile premise for artistic exploration,” says Messler Gallery Manager Victoria Allport. “28 respected makers from seven countries have responded with work that is visually and emotionally engaging to an extraordinary degree.”

The curators of Boxes to Die For are wood artists Jennifer Anderson, from San Diego, CA, and Graeme Priddle, from Asheville, NC, who also have pieces in the show. International exhibitors include Eric Adjetey Anang (Accra, Ghana), Ashley Eriksmoen (Canberra, Australia), Michael Hosaluk (Saskatoon, SK), Hubert Landri (Drome, France), Art Liestman (Vancouver, BC), Alain Mailland (Chamborigaud, France), Neil Turner (Stratham, Australia), John Van der Kolk (Sydney, Australia), Tim Wigmore (Wellington, New Zealand), and Tak Yoshino (Yamanashi, Japan). Exhibitors from across the U.S. include Joe S. Amaral (Fort Bragg, CA), Chance Coalter (San Diego, CA), Douglas Finkel (Lutherville, MD), Mary Lauren Fraser (Montague, MA), Kristin LeVier (Moscow, ID), David J. Marks (Santa Rosa, CA), Laura Mays (Fort Bragg, CA), Mason McBrien (Union, ME), John Mydock (Honolulu, HI), Jim Piper (Portland, OR), Mac Ray (Damariscotta, ME), Jason Schneider (San Diego, CA), David Sengel (Boone, NC), Elizabeth Spotswood-Spencer (New Bern, NC), Curt Theobald (Pine Bluffs, WY), and Greg Zall (Petaluma, CA).

Eric Adjetey Anang|Accra, Ghana. Abebuam Adeka (Boxes of Proverbs), Cocoa Pod, 2018. Pine, acrylic apint, satin fabric. $6,000. 32" x 8' x 28".

Eric Adjetey Anang

Eric Adjetey Anang|Accra, Ghana. Abebuam Adeka (Boxes of Proverbs), Cocoa Pod, 2018. Pine, acrylic apint, satin fabric. $6,000. 32" x 8' x 28".

Eric Adjetey Anang

Joe S. Amaral|Fort Bragg, California. Fire and Ice, 2017. Urushi lacquer, 24k gold, coquille d'Oeuf, Gabon ebony. $4,000. 3" x 15" x 2".

Joe S. Amaral

Joe S. Amaral|Fort Bragg, California. Fire and Ice, 2017. Urushi lacquer, 24k gold, coquille d'Oeuf, Gabon ebony. $4,000. 3" x 15" x 2".

Joe S. Amaral

Ashley Jameson Eriksmoen|Canberra, Australia. Regrow, 2019. Victoria ash, various hardwoods from salvaged furniture, birch plywood, acrylic and milk paints, polyurethane and Scandinavian oil finishes. $2,000. 28" x 9" x 7".

Ashley Jameson Eriksmoen

Ashley Jameson Eriksmoen|Canberra, Australia. Regrow, 2019. Victoria ash, various hardwoods from salvaged furniture, birch plywood, acrylic and milk paints, polyurethane and Scandinavian oil finishes. $2,000. 28" x 9" x 7".

Ashley Jameson Eriksmoen

Douglas Finkel|Lutherville, Maryland. Gerry and Pearl, 2018. Ambrosia maple, walnut, copper. NFS. 11" x 14" dia.

Douglas Finkel

Douglas Finkel|Lutherville, Maryland. Gerry and Pearl, 2018. Ambrosia maple, walnut, copper. NFS. 11" x 14" dia.

Douglas Finkel

Mary Lauren Fraser|Montague, Massachusetts. Willow Coffin, 2018. Willow, unbleached muslin liner. $2,800. 16" x 5'7" x 20".

Mary Lauren Fraser

Mary Lauren Fraser|Montague, Massachusetts. Willow Coffin, 2018. Willow, unbleached muslin liner. $2,800. 16" x 5'7" x 20".

Mary Lauren Fraser

Michael Hosaluk|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Burial Urn, 2017. Yellow cedar, blackwood, ink. $2,200. 12" x 6" dia.

Michael Hosaluk

Hubert Landri|Drome, France. Box to Die For, 2018. Poplar burl, damascus steel, ochres. $2,500. 7" x 12" x 3.75".

Hubert Landri

Hubert Landri|Drome, France. Box to Die For, 2018. Poplar burl, damascus steel, ochres. $2,500. 7" x 12" x 3.75".

Hubert Landri

Art Liestman|Vancouver, British Columbia. Keepsake Urns, 2018. Big leaf maple burl, acrylic sheet, acrylic paints. $1,200 set of 3. 4.75" x 3" dia.

Art Liestman

Art Liestman|Vancouver, British Columbia. Keepsake Urns, 2018. Big leaf maple burl, acrylic sheet, acrylic paints. $1,200 set of 3. 4.75" x 3" dia.

Art Liestman

Kristin LeVier|Moscow, Idaho. Diadromae, 2018. Poplar, acrylic paint, aluminum mesh, silver leaf, Krylon matte finish. $1,800. 12" x 8.5" x 3".

Kristin LeVier

Alain Mailland|Chamborigaud, France. Ancestor's Home, 2018. Sophora Japonica, acrylic paint, colored pencil. $7,500. 22.5" x 11".

Alain Mailland

Alain Mailland|Chamborigaud, France. Ancestor's Home, 2018. Sophora Japonica, acrylic paint, colored pencil. $7,500. 22.5" x 11".

Alain Mailland

David J. Marks|Santa Rosa, California. Into the Cosmos, 1998. Maple, silver leaf, chemicals to create patina. 3,600. 16" x 10" x 3".

David J. Marks

David J. Marks|Santa Rosa, California. Into the Cosmos, 1998. Maple, silver leaf, chemicals to create patina. 3,600. 16" x 10" x 3".

David J. Marks

Laura Mays|Fort Bragg, California. Pitch, 2018. Red oak, ink finish. $375. 8" x 6" x 6".

Laura Mays

John Mydock|Honolulu, Hawaii. Sea Shell, 2018. Koa body and fineal, Norfolk pine wing, catalized urethane finish. $1,200. 3" x 9" x 6".

John Mydock

John Mydock|Honolulu, Hawaii. Sea Shell, 2018. Koa body and fineal, Norfolk pine wing, catalized urethane finish. $1,200. 3" x 9" x 6".

John Mydock

Jim Piper|Portland, Oregon. Entwined in Fortuity, 2018. Madrone, stone, acrylic paint, copper guilding, waterbourne lacquer finish. NFS. 7.75" x 6.25" x 6.25".

Jim Piper

Jim Piper|Portland, Oregon. Entwined in Fortuity, 2018. Madrone, stone, acrylic paint, copper guilding, waterbourne lacquer finish. NFS. 7.75" x 6.25" x 6.25".

Jim Piper

Graeme Priddle|Asheville, North Carolina. "In Memory of a Friend" for Binh, 2018. Mixed media. NFS. 12" x 20.5" x 4".

Graeme Priddle

Graeme Priddle|Asheville, North Carolina. "In Memory of a Friend" for Binh, 2018. Mixed media. NFS. 12" x 20.5" x 4".

Graeme Priddle

Mac Ray|Damariscotta, Maine. Sunny Side Up, 2018. Cherry, cherry burl, 24k gold leaf. $3,800/set of 3. 9" x 9", 7" x 7", 5" x 5".

Mac Ray

David Sengel|Boone, North Carolina. Urn for the Last Thorn Bird, 2018. Sassafras, honey locust thorns, one cast pure silver thorn, crackled paint. $1,600. 18" x 8" x 4.5".

David Sengel

David Sengel|Boone, North Carolina. Urn for the Last Thorn Bird, 2018. Sassafras, honey locust thorns, one cast pure silver thorn, crackled paint. $1,600. 18" x 8" x 4.5".

David Sengel

Elizabeth Spotswood Spencer|New Bern, North Carolina. The Cocoon, 2017. Pine, walnut, tupelo, screen, tacks, paint, graphite. $1,800. 14" x 8" x 5".

Elizabeth Spotswood Spencer

Elizabeth Spotswood Spencer|New Bern, North Carolina. The Cocoon, 2017. Pine, walnut, tupelo, screen, tacks, paint, graphite. $1,800. 14" x 8" x 5".

Elizabeth Spotswood Spencer

Curt Theobald|Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. I'm Not Worth Dying For, 2018. Cast glass, curly maple, acrylic paint, ebonized ash, soapstone, acrylic lacquer. $3,800. 9" x 6" x 3".

Curt Theobald

Curt Theobald|Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. I'm Not Worth Dying For, 2018. Cast glass, curly maple, acrylic paint, ebonized ash, soapstone, acrylic lacquer. $3,800. 9" x 6" x 3".

Curt Theobald

Neil Turner|Stratham, Australia. Final Destination, 2018. Sandalwood, black fleck jarrah, sheoak. $5,000. 10.5" x 7" dia.

Neil Turner

Neil Turner|Stratham, Australia. Final Destination, 2018. Sandalwood, black fleck jarrah, sheoak. $5,000. 10.5" x 7" dia.

Neil Turner

John Van der Kolk|Sydney, Australia. Egrets, I've Had a Few, 2018. Australian cedar, Huon pine, rosewood. $1,750. 15.5" x 10" x 5.5".

John Van der Kolk

John Van der Kolk|Sydney, Australia. Egrets, I've Had a Few, 2018. Australian cedar, Huon pine, rosewood. $1,750. 15.5" x 10" x 5.5".

John Van der Kolk

Tim Wigmore|Yamanshi, Japan. Art Box Casket, 2018. Poplar, kauri, matai, rimu, bamboo, leather, oak, acrylic paint. $14,000. 18" x 6.6' x 30".

Tim Wigmore

Tim Wigmore|Yamanshi, Japan. Art Box Casket, 2018. Poplar, kauri, matai, rimu, bamboo, leather, oak, acrylic paint. $14,000. 18" x 6.6' x 30".

Tim Wigmore

Tak Yoshino|Yamanshi, Japan. Eternal Urn, 2018. Japanese buried cedar wood, keyaki, paulwnia. $5,000. 6" x 8" x 12".

Tak Yoshino

Tak Yoshino|Yamanshi, Japan. Eternal Urn, 2018. Japanese buried cedar wood, keyaki, paulwnia. $5,000. 6" x 8" x 12".

Tak Yoshino

Greg Zall|Petaluma, California. MJ Cremation Urn, 2015. Holly, nutmeg, yellow heart, ebony, shellac finish. NFS. 11" x 6" x 6".

Greg Zall