I discovered the sculpture of the late Don Meserve late in my life. Actually, had it not been for the large outdoor works at Studio 53 and the articles I’ve written over the years about sculptor Dick Alden, the Maine Stone Workers Guild, and the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium ... not to mention Studio 53 – where this new Meserve show just happens to be – I might not have! Long sentence, I know ...

Meserve taught at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and at sculpture symposiums or in conversation with other sculptors. After his death, 56 of his works went to the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium (SISS) with proceeds to be used for the Maine Stone Workers Guild education programs and Schoodic’s Arts For All. 

The new exhibition was displayed by Dick and Priscilla Alden. Dick has spoken many times about Meserve; how he found a friend, mentor and teacher in the master sculptor, craftsman and educator, for what is possibly his own life's work.

“He was responsible for inviting me to the first J.C. Stone Symposium in 2010” in Jefferson, Alden added. “It was an artistic and sculpting leap for me. I remain forever grateful for all that he gave me as an artist and a friend.”

Dick said all of the pieces in the show, about 30, are from two sources: Juanita Dugsdale, Meserve’s widow, selected from works in his studio at Round Pond, the Maine Stone Workers Guild Education Fund, and SISS.

Now about this show ... I’m more familiar with his stone sculptures in granite and basalt. This show includes smaller works, some in granite and several pieces in work in metal and wood – and I found them quite fascinating … they have a mythical, ancient air about them. 

Some of my favorites are metal castings mounted on wood.  “Green Man” (also known as Jack-in-the-Green) is an ages old Celtic symbol of rebirth. He is also a pagan god, the spirit of the forests and the wild. “Pergatorio” depicts a masculine-looking figure descending into ... well, purgatory. Before I knew the name of this piece, and when it was upside down, I thought the figure was standing on the top of a mountain, a precipice to the Otherworld, Summerland, or the afterlife. The third metal and wood piece I really love is called “Fallen Angel.” Head tilted to one side, arms stretched out from its side ... and the wings! The texture of the wings is ridge-like, kind of resembling ammonites. There are more metal and wood pieces, but these, these ... be still my heart!

Moving on ... a brass casting on a wood base is interesting ... is it of a genie lamp? Elfin slipper? Nope. This piece is “Blade” and is quite primitive looking. 

Some of Meserve’s handmade tools are displayed in a case as well! There’s a hatchet, a stiletto (very cool made with a decorative wood and bone handle); and the rose clippers earned Meserve a Industrial Design Award. 

A never before shown  6’-7’ granite sculpture Dick describes as a composite of Admiral Peary and his lieutenant, Terry Henson, will be installed in front of Studio 53 for the show. Another 6’ to 7’ granite piece, entitled “Knotted Whales,”  will be added to the Waterfront Sculpture Garden next week.

This show runs through the end of June and returns in September. 

Studio 53 owner Terry Seaman says art lovers should be masked, as per the current COVID 19 orders set by Gov. Janet Mills. The gallery is at 53 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor and is open daily noon to 5 p.m. 

Check it out ... and did I neglect to mention the silky smooth penguin of black granite? So adorable ...