January 24 – April 2, 2025
“Free Verse,” an international survey of contemporary marquetry, will be on display at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, in Rockport, ME, from January 24 through April 2, 2025. The exhibitors came together discuss their work during an artist talk following the opening. See a recording of that talk on our YouTube page.
The exhibition, curated by James Macdonald of Burnham, ME, presents 21 pieces by 22 wood artists from six countries. Marquetry is the art of assembling wood and veneers into decorative patterns or images, and the variety and remarkable craftsmanship on display ranges from stunning cabinets with intricate inlays to luminous wall hangings and pop-art inspired objets d’art.
“What compels us to concern ourselves with thin fragile slices of wood?” poses curator James Macdonald. “Sawing, cutting, carefully coaxing our chosen material into the voice of our artistic vision, we participate in this craft called marquetry. “Free Verse” will be a showing of the work of contemporary marquetry artists – some new, some who have made a career of the artful assemblage of veneers.” Macdonald’s focus in selecting the exhibitors was to find those looking beyond tradition and using this craft as a means of personal creative expression. “Be free to push your boundaries,” he encouraged, “show us where you are or where you are heading. Help this be an exhibition not of rules, but of possibilities!”
International exhibitors include Ryan Andrusky (Alberta, Canada), Susan Bart (Bilbao, Spain), Adrian Ferrazzutti (Ontario, Canada), Isaac Sintim (Accra, Ghana), Anne Lecorguillé (Plévenon-Cap Fréhel, France), and Toby Winteringham (Norfolk, England). Exhibitors from across the U.S. include Shannon Bowser (Brooklyn, NY), Paula Garbarino (Somerville, MA), collaborators Cindy Goldman and Spider Johnson (Austin, TX), Scott Grove (Canandaigua, NY), Sasha Kopf (Hadley, MA), Silas Kopf (Northampton, MA), Patrice Lejeune (Los Angeles, CA), James Macdonald (Burnham, ME), David J. Marks (Santa Rosa, CA), Jack Mauch (Spruce Pine, NC), Brian Reid (Rockland, ME), Paul Schürch (Laupahoehoe, HI), William Tunberg (Venice, CA), Chelsea Van Voorhis (New Orleans, LA), and Greg Zall (1957-2023).
