November 29, 2007 – March 14, 2008
Maine Wood 2008 is the first-ever statewide, juried exhibition of contemporary Maine woodworking.
Sixty-three furniture makers, sculptors, carvers, and wood turners submitted more 135 pieces for consideration, from which 24 were chosen by jurors Garrett Hack and Beth Ireland. Hack is a noted author and furniture maker from Thetford Center, Vermont. Ireland is a well-regarded sculptor, wood turner, and furniture maker from Roslindale, Massachusetts.
The exhibition is co-sponsored by 11 Maine crafts organizations, including the Bangor Woodworkers Association, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Kennebec Valley Woodworkers Association, Maine Crafts Association, Maine Wood Carvers Association, Maine Wood Products Association, Maine Woodnet, Maine Woodturners, Maine Woodworkers Association, Midcoast Woodworkers, and Western Mountain Woodturners.
The selected work represents the excellence and diversity of Maine’s woodworking community. Exhibitors are Abram Barrett and Wayne Hall of Bucksport, Alan Bradstreet of Pownal, Robert Brand of Naples, John Bryan of North Yarmouth, Steve Burke of Harmon, Aaron Fedarko of Camden, Kevin Gill of West Rockport, Robert Hottentot of Oakland, Bull Huston of Kennebunkport, Chris Joyce and Julie Morringelo of Stonington, Michael Kagan of Sebec, Dick Kelly of Spruce Head, Ken Kohl and Peter Turner of Portland, Thomas Mifflin of South Portland, Brian Reid of Rockland, Chris Steiner of Thomaston, Lynn Szymanski of York, and Peter Thompson of Cornville.
At the opening reception, more than $2,000 in prizes from corporate sponsors will be awarded. These include a $500 gift certificate from Lie-Nielsen Toolworks of Warren, Maine for Jurors’ Best-in-Show and $500 from Holt & Bugbee in Tewksbury, Massachusetts for the People’s Choice Award. Highland Hardwoods in Brentwood, New Hampshire is offiering a $400 gift certificate for the Most Creative, Maine Coast Lumber in York, Maine is offering a $350 gift certificate for Best New Maker, for which exhibitors who have not previously shown at the Messler Gallery are eligible, and DMT Diamond Whetstones of Marlborough, Massachusetts is offering a $300 gift certificate for Best Joinery Techniques. Other gift certificate awards include $250 from Fat Andy’s Hardwoods in Yarmouth, Maine for Outstanding Craftsmanship, $250 from Northland Forest Products in Kingston, New Hampshire for Best in Furniture, and $250 from Certainly Wood in Aurora, New York for Best Use of Veneer.
