Student work showcased at Maine gallery

The annual “Current Student Work” exhibit opened in April at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine.

The exhibit showcases furniture and decorative objects created by participants in the center’s flagship course entitled the Nine-Month Comprehensive. The students who are presently enrolled come from a wide array of backgrounds and experience, including financial management, architecture, ranching, military service and industrial design. For many, this exhibition is the first opportunity to see their work in a professional setting.

“What these students have accomplished in so short a time is simply inspiring,” student services manager Dorrie Higbee says.

The Nine-Month Comprehensive program is designed for aspiring professional furniture makers and dedicated amateurs who seek in-depth training with the highest standard of excellence. Students complete 10 sequential projects that take them from woodworking fundamentals through the fine points of design and craftsmanship. The lead instructor is Aled Lewis, a furniture maker from the United Kingdom. Lewis is joined by 13 co-teachers who are experts in areas such as casework, finishing, carving, drawing, bending, veneering and chairmaking, according to the school.

Maine woodworkers and artists who serve as instructors include furniture makers Aaron Fedarko, Mason McBrien and Tim Rousseau, carver Valdemar Skov and artist Simon van der Ven.

Other instructors include furniture makers Bruce Beeken, Adrian Ferrazzutti, Sarah Kay and Pete Schlebecker; designer/maker Reuben Foat; turner Beth Ireland and furniture restorer Greg Johnson.

Exhibiting students include Paul Andrews from Ontario, Ted Bryant and Randall Howell from Virginia, Kevin Chen and Jen Harvie-Watt from California, Emily Deutchman from New York, Cody Farmer from Oklahoma, RD Johnson from Oregon, Carsten Oksen from Denmark, Tom Pietraszek from Rhode Island, and Jim Zink from New Hampshire. 

Contact: Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, 25 Mill St., Rockport, ME, 04856. Tel: 207-594-5611. www.woodschool.org.

This article originally appeared in the June 2014 issue.