Explorations in Wood

Our dependence on – and love for – wood cannot be overstated. It’s integral to our very existence in a range of ways, encompassing our man-made environments as well as both utilitarian and decorative items. The organic qualities of wood, our ability to manipulate its shape, its abundance, and its renewable potential are among the reasons wood permeates our culture – including the art world. The seventy objects comprising Explorations in Wood highlight the diversity and unlimited potential of wood via this sampling of objects from the collection of Philadelphia’s Center for Art in Wood gathered over a forty-year period. These works stem from a love of wood and display a rich variety of wood type and processes, including wood-turned vessels as well as more sculptural forms. Many celebrate the natural beauty of wood, evident in rich warm-brown tones and assorted grain patterns, typical of materials gathered around the globe.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website