Turnings in Philadelphia

On Nov. 4, the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia opened its fall exhibition, “Vessels: Embodiment, Autonomy and Ornament in Wood”, featuring 26 works by 16 international wood-based artists, which will run through Feb. 12.

“One of the most fundamental forms of craft, vessels have assumed many forms – bowls, spoons, vases, and crucibles, for example – and facilitated human survival, industry, and legend throughout history. Connecting to the center’s origins as an advocate for art in woodturning, the exhibition examines the vessel as a source of inspiration for artists working in wood,” the center said in a statement.

Works on loan for the exhibition include a large-scale piece, “Sycamore Story 2021”, by New Jersey-based sculptor and furniture maker Jack Larimore and self-portrait sculptures by Los Angeles-born artist Vivian Chiu.

The show also incorporates several works from the center’s permanent collection, including vases by Vermont woodturner Michelle Holzapfel and a woven basket from Finnish visual artist Markku Kosonen.

For more, visit centerforartinwood.org.

This article was originally published in the December 2022 issue.