‘Hidden in the Wood’ at Monkitree

Monkitree invites you to visit its latest show, “Hidden in the Wood,” featuring woodturners Dennis Curtis, Lanny Dean and Glen Glazier, woodcarvers Jonathan Leach and Sally Abrahamson and paintings by Jonathan Christopher. An artist reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12. 

Trees continue to tell their story and those who work with wood make a point of uncovering it. Woodturners and carvers will often speak of uncovering hidden beauty or revealing the trees’ struggles. Whether carving a bird or turning a bowl, the wood provides direction to expose what is within. Paintings of flowering trees have been selected to complement the wood. 

Wood carver Jonathan Leach explains, “Each block of wood holds hidden beauty, like the cocoon holds the unseen beauty of the butterfly.” For Jonathan, a block of wood may hold a whale or a bird that he, through his craft, is able to reveal. For wood turners who are creating vessels, there is a balance between control and chance as skill and technique reveal the inherent beauty of the wood. 

Dennis Curtis describes the choices to be made when working with wood, “Turning bowls and vessels with fairly straight, predictable grain and color can be pleasurable and yield beautiful results, but I’m more excited by the wood that gives us a glimpse of the tree’s history. Even when I could avoid wood with defects, or simply cut away a troubled area, I often choose to leave the wood to reveal its struggles.” 

Monkitree will donate a portion of the sales to Maine Veteran Woodturners, a nonprofit organization that gives veterans support in reintegrating into society by giving them something to do with their hands and minds in an atmosphere where they can be productive and the Eagle Head Cane Project of the Maine Woodcarvers Association, who make personalized canes for veterans. 

Monkitree is at 263 Water St., Gardiner. Call 207-512-4679 or visit www.monkitree.com for details.