Curator's Statement:
This exhibition celebrates the work of three generations of the Moulthrop family, who each in their own way, have completely altered and enriched our experience of the possibilities of lathe-turned woodworking. Is it nature or nurture that encourages this unusual tradition (especially in the 20th and 21st centuries) of passing one’s passion for painting, composing, poetry or, as in this case, woodworking from one generation to the next? In American art history, we have the examples of the Peale and the Wyeth families as well as the Owens ceramic artists of North Carolina, and the glassmaking Marioni family, among others, but the tradition of following in your family's artistic footsteps is relatively rare.
In the case of the Moulthrop family, the story begins with Ed Moulthrop's love of the material and process which he shared with his son, Philip and later grandson, Matt. We discover that their innovative technical expertise demanded that they often fashion their own tools and develop inventive processes that would enable them to achieve their aesthetic vision. They also immersed themselves in the study of trees, gaining a remarkable knowledge of the possibilities and potential of wood. Looking at the different examples of their art selected for this exhibition, we become aware of how each individual artist realized and perfected his own distinct aesthetic vision. Though they have worked with exotic woods from all over the world, there is a strong tradition of focusing on the wood native to the southeastern United States where they live. Some families pass heirlooms through the generations. In the Moulthrop family they have passed the skills, creativity and inspiration that gives us this extraordinary art.
A free public reception will be held Thursday, June 15 at 5pm at The Bascom.
