From June 2 through July 28, a golden glow will radiate from the Camden Public Library’s Picker Room Gallery. The public is invited to view a show of gilded carvings by acclaimed artist William Francis Brown. The exhibit will display a sampling of Brown’s award-winning folk art, with a focus on his carvings in the iconic style of 19th century carver, John Haley Bellamy of Kittery, Maine. An artist’s reception will be held at the library on Saturday, June 11, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.
The show will also feature some of Brown’s popular Maine and New England-based nautical and folk carvings. Examples include gold-leafed codfish, whales, Lady Liberty, and other early American folk motifs. These classic pieces can be seen gracing New England homes and are a prominent feature on the entryways and doors of local Camden homes and businesses.
Samples of Brown’s house and place name plaques will also be on display. Each piece is carved and finished entirely by hand by Brown at his shop in Camden. Many of the items will be available for sale and commissions, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Camden Public Library.
William Francis Brown has been learning about and making period furniture and carvings for over 35 years. His pieces have been selected for museums and historic sites, including James Madison’s Montpelier and Historic Jamestown, and have been featured in Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking, Early American Life, and other publications. He exhibits in shows across the nation and has won numerous awards. Brown has been selected annually since 2015 to the Early American Life Directory of American Craftsmen for both his furniture and his carvings.
In 2020, Brown began Maine Coast Workshops in Camden with a goal to bring young people (and students of all ages) opportunities to learn from world-class woodworking masters. Learn more at mainecoastworkshop.com, and see examples of Brown’s carvings at lineandberry.com.
