ROCKPORT — Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship presents a show featuring the work of its alumni and former Fellows opened September 22 at the Messler Gallery, in Rockport. The opening reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend. The exhibition runs through January 10, 2024.   

The 23 works on display were selected from over 100 submissions and showcase the talent in design and craftsmanship learned by the school’s graduates through its variety of programs.

“This exhibition beautifully displays the breadth and depth of talent of our students and fellows over the last 30 years,” said Matt Hoggle, the Center’s director, in a news release. “The creativity of design and incredible craftsmanship on offer is a testament to the valuable role the Center continues to play in the fields of woodworking and craft education.”

Jurors for the exhibition were Dixie Biggs, Woodturner/Instructor, from Gainsville, FL, John Cameron, Furniture Maker, from Gloucester, MA, and Adam John Manley, Associate Professor of Furniture Design and Woodworking at San Diego State University, from San Diego, CA.

Alumni and Fellows participating in the exhibition are both professional and avocational woodworkers from around the U.S. and internationally. They include Bjarke Ballisager (Copenhagen, Denmark), William Bellamy (Columbia, MD), William Brickey (Moncure, NC), Clara Cohan (Cape Elizabeth, ME), Peter Dellert (Holyoke, MA) Lin Elkins (Camden, ME), Aaron Fedarko (Camden, ME), Vaishnavi Ilankamban (Brooklyn, NY), Sabastijan Jemec (New York, NY), Patrick Kana (Dedham, MA), Clark Kellogg (Houston, TX), Sergey Levchin (Brooklyn, NY), Adam Markowitz (Northcote, Australia), Heide Martin (Appleton, ME), Kingsley Parker (Hudson, NY), Drew Perkins (Washington, DC), Osamu Sassa (Camden, ME), Matthew Shewchuk (Tokorozawa, Japan), Laurie Sproul, Brownville, ME, Madeleine Stewart (Evergreen, CO), Sara Tabbert (Fairbanks, AK), Devin Wilde (Brookilyn, NY), and Bruce Willey (Nashville, TN).

The exhibitors are graduates of a Nine-month Comprehensive program, Twelve-week Intensive Furniture and Turning programs, summer Workshops, and the Fellowship program..

Messler Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays through November 4. The gallery is located on the campus of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, at the corner of Route 90 and Mill Street in Rockport, Maine. After the opening, the exhibition will be on view at the Center’s website, www.woodschool.org.

The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship is a nonprofit, year-round school that offers courses in furniture making and related arts such as carving and woodturning.  For more information, call 207-594-5611, e-mail victoria.allport@woodschool.org or visit our website at www.woodschool.org. The Messler Gallery is located on the campus of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, at the corner of Route 90 and Mill Street in Rockport, ME.