Super Bowls: The Art of Turned Wood

The 32 exquisitely turned bowls and other objects in this exhibition combine the beauty of wood with designs that accentuate wood's unique properties. Wood turning, like other craft media such as glass and clay, came into its own in the 1960s and 1970s as a rich form of creative expression. Using a lathe to carve these one-of-a-kind pieces, the turners showcased here seek to capture the splendor and richness of their medium, while also striking an aesthetic balance of color, form, and texture. More so, the artists seek to communicate through each work—and honor the tree it came from. Matt Moulthrop, whose legendary wood-turning family is well represented in this exhibition, explains, "Worm holes convey past life, rings communicate growth, and certain colors tell the story of death by lightning or blight. My job is to tell the story ... lengthening the life of the tree rather than ending it."