Exhibits & Events

The Esherick Museum is delighted to announce the opening of Wood And…, our 27th Annual Juried Woodworking Exhibition. Although for many the name Wharton Esherick is nearly synonymous with wood, Esherick used a wide array of materials with both innovation and sensitivity. Likewise, the 26 artworks included in Wood And… reflect a broad array of approaches to combining materials in exciting ways. The work ranges from furniture to sculpture to design, representing vastly different perspectives, creative visions, and fields.

Each of the featured artists understands how wood’s essential qualities can be reimagined or enhanced in combination with materials either familiar to art making — for example paint, clay, glass, fabric, and metal — or less conventional, like LED lights and rice. Taken together, the works in Wood And… argue for the vast potential of material interdisciplinarity, which reflects the experimentation with materials, object types, and genres that was a critical part of Esherick’s own artistic practice.

Wood And… is a virtual exhibition viewable beginning May 14, 2021. The three artworks selected for First, Second, and Third place will also be on display in the Visitor Center when the Museum reopens.

Join us in celebrating the opening of Wood And…, our 27th Annual Juried Woodworking Exhibition! At the reception, we’ll hear insights from WEM Director of Curatorial Affairs and Strategic Partnerships Emily Zilber, as well as our three prizewinning artists, Aspen Golann, Christian Burchard, and Jason Turnidge. Bring your questions, curiosity, and a drink of your choice, as we raise a glass to the material experimentation and vastly different perspectives, creative visions, and fields represented in this year’s show!

This is a free online event; advance reservations are required.

To register for the show’s opening Zoom reception on May 13th, follow the link here!

For more info on Wood And…, follow the link here!

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