‘Maine Carving’ a top-notch exhibit

“Contemporary Maine Carving,” through March 3, Messler Gallery at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, 594-5611 or www.woodschool.org.

Wooden sculptures have an intrinsic vitality. They bear the hand of the craftsman, the direct markings of knife and chisel, buffered by the smooth sheen of oil or stain. Carvers coax motion and emotion from a solid, humble block of wood.

For the exhibit “Contemporary Maine Carving,” curator Steve Lindsay chose 18 artists who give their own interpretation of Maine’s rich woodworking tradition. With the exception of Clark Fitz-Gerald of Castine, who died in November at age 87, all are living and working in the state.

When asked to curate the show, Lindsay, a Tenants Harbor sculptor whose work has been chosen for several Maine Percent for Art projects as well as private commissions, relied on his network of carving friends to put out a call. A diverse group of artists came, quite literally, out of the woodwork.

And what a range of work they’ve created. From Joe Dana’s traditional Penobscot root club to Jacques Vesery’s intricate gold- and silver-leafed vessels, this exhibit showcases everything from folk art to high design. What the pieces share is a common medium and a high level of quality.

Lindsay’s “POMONA” stands regally on solid, heavy legs, her arms crossed over the swell of her stomach. Equally substantial is “Zen,” by renowned sculptor Cabot Lyford. In fluid lines, a woman bends to touch her toes, her hair tumbling down toward her feet.

These stand in stark contrast to Laurie Stearns’ delicate basswood lady’s slipper, on a pedestal, and her sunflower, whose thin petals unfurl on the wall. Curls of wood add texture and interest to the flower’s center. Belfast sculptor Jim Bird’s great blue heron soars overhead.

Anyone who loves woodworking will be drawn to this show. But its real allure lies in its broad appeal. Wood is warm. It speaks quietly of the history and traditions of Maine. “Contemporary Maine Carving” is a chance to listen.

Art Notes

. Montville fashion designer Meredith Alex, whose pieces are really wearable art, recently debuted “Metamorphosis in Vogue, the Raw Nerve Collection” at the Kitchen Gallery in Manhattan. Her installation of eight pieces based on historical and contemporary dress silhouettes was part of “West goes East: CalArts Alumni at the Kitchen,” for graduates of the California Institute of the Arts. Though her previous body of work drew inspiration from nature, this collection is edgier, including dresses made of intimate personal items such as Midol and pregnancy test boxes, intended to take viewers out of their comfort zone. The sculptures focus on issues of feminism and femininity, often with a political twist.

. Artists Sam Van Aken and Wally Warren have taken over the University of Maine Department of Art Carnegie Galleries with a pair of divergent installations. Warren is known for his whimsical, thought-provoking pieces created from found objects. In “Chaos,” he shows sculptural cityscapes crafted of computer parts, lighters and toys, among other materials. In doing so, he transforms the mundane into the sublime. Van Aken, does the same thing, in a much different fashion. He spent a year exploring the role of Roy Neary, Richard Dreyfus’ character in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” His show, “Becoming,” documents the experience in a re-creation of Neary’s living room, but also comments on mass culture. The show will be on view through March 18 at the galleries in Carnegie Hall on the UM campus. For information, call 581-3267.

. Maine is well-represented in “500 Wood Bowls” and “500 Figures in Clay,” a pair of graphics-heavy tomes from Lark Books. Ceramics expert and juror Leslie Ferrin chose two earthenware vases by Melissa Greene of Deer Isle, as well as a figurative sculpture by John Chwekun of Newcastle for inclusion. Ray Leier and Jan Peters of del Mano Gallery in Los Angeles and art writer Kevin Wallace juried the wood bowls. They selected burl bowls by Joe Dallorso of Strong, colorful pieces by Stephen Gleasner of Appleton, sleek, minimalist pieces by John May of Kittery and detailed works that fuse sea and sky by Jacques Vesery of Damariscotta. For information, visit www.larkbooks.com.