ROCKPORT — “Current Student Work” opens on Friday, April 26, at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport. The opening reception will be held on Friday, May 3, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend, enjoy refreshments, and meet the makers. The exhibition, which runs through May 29, features furniture and furnishings by students in the school’s flagship Nine-month Comprehensive course.

"This year's Nine-month students have done a brilliant job of combining the raw material of wood with their ideas, training, and passion to create objects that will be sure to delight and impress viewers,” said Tim Rousseau, the Comprehensive’s Lead Instructor.

Executive Director Matt Hoggle adds, “It is a highlight of our year to see the students’ journeys at CFC culminate in this showing of such well-crafted work as they venture forward to further influence the field and culture of wood craftsmanship and design.”

Current Comprehensive participants range in age from 18-71. Coming from backgrounds in ministry, design, carpentry, education, cabinet making, entrepreneurship, and steelwork, they include Keenan Blough from California, Shawn Bowen from Massachusetts, Garrett Burridge from Maine, Eric Carr from Virginia, DeWolf Emery from Maine, Isaac Feuerman from Pennsylvania, Bonnie Hawk from Maryland, Coleen Holden from Washington, Maren Jevremov from Arizona, Jude Moffitt from California, Hannim Song from South Korea, and Bill Tesar from Pennsylvania.

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. Tim Rousseau is joined for different parts of the course by co-teachers with specific expertise in casework, carving, drawing, bending, veneering, marquetry, turning, and chair making, among other skills. Instructors from Maine include Seth Bosdell, Joseph Flynn, Tanya Harsch, Mark Juliana, Jim Macdonald, Erica Moody, Philip Morley, Libby Schrum, and Valdemar Skov. Other instructors include Bruce Beeken from Vermont, John Cameron from Massachusetts, Owain Harris from New Hampshire, Beth Ireland from Florida, Aled Lewis from Wales, 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, email victoria.allport@woodschool.org or visit our website at www.woodschool.org. Messler Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 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.