April 19 – May 29, 2019

“Current Student Work” opened at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine on Friday, April 19.

“Current Student Work” showcases furniture and furnishings created by participants in the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship’s flagship course, the Nine-month Comprehensive. The students come from a wide array of backgrounds and professional experience, including architecture, linguistics, theology, public relations, theater, fashion design, and military service. For many of them, this exhibition is the first opportunity to present their work in a professional setting.

“The quality of design and execution would be exceptional in any context,” says the Center’s Executive Director, Peter Korn. “Aled Lewis and our co-teachers are justifiably proud of the success with which these students have harnessed their imaginations and skills.”

Exhibitors in “Current Student Work” are William Earl Bihlmeyer, from Louisiana, Ken Diamond, from Ohio, Caitriona Fiero, from New York, Joseph Flynn, from China, Denise Gaul, from Colorado, Paul Keating, from New York, Alexander Lohn, from Texas, Chris Merchant, from Iowa, Peter Nielsen, from Denmark, Osamu Sassa, from New York, Karen Schaffer, from North Carolina, and Tyler J. Willmon, from Tennessee.

The Nine-month Comprehensive is designed for aspiring professional furniture makers and dedicated amateurs who seek in-depth training at the highest standard of excellence. Students complete twelve sequential projects that take them from woodworking fundamentals through fine points of design and craftsmanship. The Lead Instructor for the course is Aled Lewis, a highly respected furniture maker from the U.K. Lewis is joined by eleven co-teachers who are experts in areas such as casework, finishing, carving, drawing, bending, veneering, and chair making. Maine woodworkers and artists who serve as instructors include furniture maker Aaron Fedarko, instructor Mark Juliana, marquetarian Jim Macdonald, artist Leith MacDonald, furniture maker Tim Rousseau, and carver Valdemar Skov. Other instructors include furniture maker Bruce Beeken, from Vermont, furniture maker Heidi Earnshaw, from Ontario, furniture maker Owain Harris, from New Hampshire, turner Beth Ireland, from Florida, and upholsterer Mike Mascelli, from New York.

William Earl Bihlmeyer|New Orleans, LA. Promontory, 2019. Ash, copper. $5,500. 26" x 48" x 32".

William Earl Bihlmeyer

William Earl Bihlmeyer|New Orleans, LA. Promontory, 2019. Ash, copper. $5,500. 26" x 48" x 32".

William Earl Bihlmeyer

William Earl Bihlmeyer|New Orleans, LA. Timber Wallet, 2019. Available in Osage orange, white oak, and walnut. $100 each. 2.5" x 4.25" x .75".

William Earl Bihlmeyer

Ken Diamond|Columbus, OH. Curved Bench, 2019. Ash. $3,000. 18" x 40" x 18".

Ken Diamond

Ken Diamond|Columbus, OH. Curved Bench, 2019. Ash. $3,000. 18" x 40" x 18".

Ken Diamond

Caitriona Fiero|Woodside, NY. Twypist's Desk, 2019. Ash. $3,100. 34.5" x 44" x 23.5".

Caitriona Fiero

Caitriona Fiero|Woodside, NY. Twypist's Desk, 2019. Ash. $3,100. 34.5" x 44" x 23.5".

Caitriona Fiero

Joseph Flynn|Beijing, China. Chair Number 1, 2019. White oak. $2,200. 35" x 21" x 17".

Joseph Flynn

Joseph Flynn|Beijing, China. Chair Number 1, 2019. White oak. $2,200. 35" x 21" x 17".

Joseph Flynn

Joseph Flynn|Beijing, China. Mackintosh Cabinet, 2019. White oak, bog oak, copper, glass. $8,000. 72" x 15" x 12".

Joseph Flynn

Denise Gaul|Denver, CO. Connection, 2019. Ash. $1,200. 33" x 32" x 2".

Denise Gaul

Denise Gaul|Denver, CO. Green Woman, 2019. White oak, fused glass. NFS. 18" x 12" x 2".

Denise Gaul

Denise Gaul|Denver, CO. First Edition Bookcase, 2019. Walnut. $2,700. 44" x 24" x 12".

Denise Gaul

Denise Gaul|Denver, CO. First Edition Bookcase, 2019. Walnut. $2,700. 44" x 24" x 12".

Denise Gaul

Denise Gaul|Denver, CO. Harvest Basket, 2019. Ash. $325. 5.5" x 16" x 14".

Denise Gaul

Paul C. Keating|Brooklyn, NY. Delica Tray, 2019. Poplar. $125. 19" x 8" x 2".

Paul C. Keating

Paul C. Keating|Brooklyn, NY. Beograd Cabinet, 2019. Maple, ebony veneer. $3,800. 22" x 50" x 18".

Paul C. Keating

Paul C. Keating|Brooklyn, NY. Beograd Cabinet, 2019. Maple, ebony veneer. $3,800. 22" x 50" x 18".

Paul C. Keating

Alexander Lohn|Austin, TX. Maritza's Bench, 2019. Hard maple, danish cord. NFS. 17" x 51.5" x 14".

Alexander Lohn

Alexander Lohn|Austin, TX. Maritza's Bench, 2019. Hard maple, danish cord. NFS. 17" x 51.5" x 14".

Alexander Lohn

Alexander Lohn|Austin, TX. Beacon Table, 2019. White oak. $4,800. 30" x 42" dia.

Alexander Lohn

Alexander Lohn|Austin, TX. Beacon Table, 2019. White oak. $4,800. 30" x 42" dia.

Alexander Lohn

Alexander Lohn|Austin, TX. Beacon Mirror, 2019. White oak. $1,200. 1.75" x 32" dia.

Alexander Lohn

Chris Merchant|Ames, IA. Repulsion and Connection, 2019. Ash. $4,500. 29" x 45" x 23".

Chris Merchant

Chris Merchant|Ames, IA. Repulsion and Connection, 2019. Ash. $4,500. 29" x 45" x 23".

Chris Merchant

Peter Nielsen|Denmark. Femti, 2019. Ash, wenge and ash veneer, plywood, boxwood. $2,500. 34" x 14" dia.

Peter Nielsen

Peter Nielsen|Denmark. Femti, 2019. Ash, wenge and ash veneer, plywood, boxwood. $2,500. 34" x 14" dia.

Peter Nielsen

Peter Nielsen|Denmark. Round Vase, 2019. Oak, cherry, ash, plywood, glass. $165 each. Various sizes.

Peter Nielsen

Osamu Sassa|Brooklyn, NY. Artist's Desk, 2019. Ash. NFS. 29" x 67" x 26".

Osamu Sassa

Osamu Sassa|Brooklyn, NY. Artist's Desk, 2019. Ash. NFS. 29" x 67" x 26".

Osamu Sassa

Osamu Sassa|Brooklyn, NY. Coopered Daybed, 2019. Ash. NFS. 15" x 83" x 26".

Osamu Sassa

Osamu Sassa|Brooklyn, NY. Coopered Daybed, 2019. Ash. NFS. 15" x 83" x 26".

Osamu Sassa

Osamu Sassa|Brooklyn, NY. TONGU, 2019. White oak. $100 each. 11" x 2.5" x 3.25".

Osamu Sassa

Karen Shaffer|Fayetteville, NC. Two Hearts as One, 2019. White oak, purple heart. NFS. 27" x 30" x 24".

Karen Shaffer

Tyler J. Willmon|Nashville, TN. Mt. Rockvale Vanity with Mirror, 2019. White oak, solid brass, mirror. $5,800/set with stool. $4,450/vanity and mirror alone. 33.5" x 36" x 15".

Tyler J. Willmon

Tyler J. Willmon|Nashville, TN. Mt. Rockvale Vanity with Mirror, 2019. White oak, solid brass, mirror. $5,800/set with stool. $4,450/vanity and mirror alone. 33.5" x 36" x 15".

Tyler J. Willmon

Tyler J. Willmon|Nashville, TN. Mt. Rockvale Stool, 2019. White oak, solid brass, veg. tan leather. $1,850. 22.75" x 13.75" x 20.75".

Tyler J. Willmon

Tyler J. Willmon|Nashville, TN. Mt. Rockvale Stool, 2019. White oak, solid brass, veg. tan leather. $1,850. 22.75" x 13.75" x 20.75".

Tyler J. Willmon