The Wooden Vessel
The Works of Bill Housley & Jeff Enck
On View: Jan 7 – Feb 1, 2022
Location: Maine Craft Portland
Opening Reception: Jan 7th First Friday Art Walk, 5-8p
Chiseling, carving and turning wood into vessels is one of humanity’s most ancient crafts. Maine Craft Portland brings you two fine wood working Maine artists with a specialty in creating unique vessels. From intricately hand carved vases and color enhanced lidded vessels to urns and pepper mills, these wooden vessels are a marvel to see!
Lathed into elegant shapes with bursts of color, Bill Housley’s lidded bowls are sleek with a hint of eastern design and/or accents fashioned by an ornamental tool technique that originated in 19th century England. Housley also fashions pepper mills that are delightfully colored in layers of Maine made laminated striped wood, making a fantastic artfully made condiment for your next dinner party.
Jeff Enck’s pieces are not only expertly wood turned but are hand carved and painted in a vessel technique called ‘illusion basketry’. One might mistake them for an actual woven basket! He enjoys hand carving intricate open lace designs and reliefs in his work, from abstract openwork lace shapes to natural forms found in nature.
