“Current Student Work” opens at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship on Monday, April 20. The opening reception will be held Friday, April 24, from 5 - 7 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend, enjoy refreshments, and meet the makers. The exhibition, which runs through May 27, features furniture and furnishings by students in the school’s flagship Nine-month Comprehensive course. 

"Renowned furniture maker Philip Morley took the reins as Lead Instructor of the Comprehensive this year," said the Gallery, in a news release.

Morley said: “As my first year as Lead Instructor, it’s been a particularly meaningful experience. I’ve been genuinely impressed by the students’ commitment to both the material and the process. We had twelve students come from across the country, each dedicating nine months of their lives to this program—a level of commitment that feels increasingly rare, and one that gives me real confidence in the future of the craft. They’ve done a brilliant job of bringing together solid training, thoughtful design, and real passion to produce work that feels considered, confident, and quietly distinctive.”

Executive Director Matt Hoggle adds, “First stepping into the gallery to see the students' work collected and displayed each spring is one of the highlights of our year. Their many days, nights, and weekends of hard work overcome the hesitation and self-doubt that all makers feel, leaving us with this breadth of remarkable furniture to view, touch, and examine. The work that now fills the gallery is a testament to its makers, to Phil's outstanding work in his first year as Lead, and to the many co-instructors who shaped them into the makers they've become.” 

Coming from backgrounds in construction, tech, architecture, aerospace, military service, and more, this year's exhibitors are Melike Basköylü from New York, Tricia Becker from Washington, Andy Bower from Minnesota, Brian Carroll from Michigan, Evonne Davis from New York, Todd Dewars from Washington, Josiah Marble from Indiana, Michael Melvin from Illinois, Andrew Orne from Maine, Caroline Schweyer from New York, Steven Spencer from California, and Micheal Swinson from North Carolina. 

The Nine-month Comprehensive program is designed for aspiring professional furniture makers and dedicated amateurs who seek in-depth training at the highest standard of excellence. Philip Morley, from St. George, is joined for different parts of the course by co-instructors with specific expertise in casework, carving, bending, veneering, marquetry, turning, and chair making, among other skills. Instructors from Maine include Seth Bosdell, Mark Juliana, Yuri Kobayashi, Jim Macdonald, Erica Moody, Libby Schrum, and Valdemar Skov. Other instructors include John Cameron from Massachusetts, Rob Chamberlin from Michigan, Adrian Ferrazzutti from Canada, Owain Harris from New Hampshire, Beth Ireland from Florida, Adam Markowitz from Australia, and Jack Mauch from North Carolina. 

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. Messler Gallery hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. 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, Maine.