James Macdonald: "Illustration in Wood"

A showing of marquetry-embellished wood designs at the Unity Center for Performing Arts. November 6th- December 5th.

An opening reception will be held November 6th from 4:30-6:30pm. Refreshments will be provided. The reception is free and open to the public.

James Macdonald's “Illustration in Wood” brings together designs created throughout 26 years of work in his Burnham Studio. Initially enthused by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements of the early 20th century, Macdonald has taken their concepts of surface embellishment and applied them to marquetry and inlay on his own work. Thin veneers cut from species of trees from around the world become his palette of colors and textures creating, in essence, a painting in wood.

James Macdonald has been creating marquetry and inlay work at his studio in Burnham, Maine since 1989. Before setting out on his own he spent time cabinetmaking, guitarmaking, and boatbuilding in Connecticut. Possibly one of the last original back-to-the-landers, he moved to Maine in 1984, built a passive-solar house, and settled in. Since then, he has been designing and making fine furniture, guitars, art pieces, and portraiture to the highest standards of craftsmanship. More recently, James has been focusing on marquetry, the creating of pictures using thin veneers of different kinds of wood. He initially learned the technique from marquetry master Silas Kopf. James has gone on to assist Mr. Kopf in the teaching of this craft during workshops at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport.

http://uccpa.unity.edu/exhibits/james-macdonald-illustration-wood