December 3, 2010 – February 4, 2011
Contemporary Maine Wood Sculpture explores the breadth of expression achieved by contemporary sculptors who live in Maine and work with wood. That range includes an installation of beech switches and jute by Barbara Andrus, Frederick Lynch’s minimalistic #48 and #57, and Tom Chapin’s enameled carving, Frequency and Modulation. According to the Messler Gallery Manager Beth Sauer: “Maine sculptors are doing fabulous work in wood, but there aren’t many chances to see an exhibition specifically for wood sculpture—this is a great opportunity to do so.”
In all there are 18 exhibitors from around the state. Those participants are: Anne Alexander (Windham), Barbara Andrus (Belfast), Ray Carbone (Milbridge), Tom Chapin (Phippsburg), J.T. Gibson (Morrill), Stew Henderson (Northport), Steve Hensel (Friendship), Duncan Hewitt (Hollis), Charlie Hewitt (Portland), Matt Hutton (Portland), Jeff Kellar (Falmouth), Steve Lindsay (Tenants Harbor), Lin Lisberger (Gorham), Cabot Lyford (New Harbor), Frederick Lynch (Saco), Duane Paluska (Brunswick), Stephen Porter (Searsmont), and Andy Rosen (South Portland).
The show is co-curated by Bruce Brown, Duane Paluska, and Steve Lindsay. Brown is curator emeritus at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport. Lindsay is a sculptor who has received several Maine Percentage for Art commissions. Paluska is also an artist and the founder and director of the ICON gallery in Brunswick, Maine. The exhibition’s organizing institution, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, is a nonprofit school which strives to advance high quality wood craftsmanship as a vibrant medium of expression. Bruce Brown, commenting on the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship’s decision to present a sculpture exhibition, said, “Showing sculpture at a furniture school creates an opportunity for dialog between sculptors and furniture makers who are linked by a reverence for wood.”
