Bruce E. Babb -- Bio

 PERSONAL:
Born Bruce Edward Babb in Falmouth, Maine, 1939. Attended Falmouth High School and the University of Maine at Orono, earning a BS in Chemistry in 1961. Worked for Great Northern Paper Co. in Millinocket, Maine until 1963 when he and his wife Julie moved to Rochester, NY to work for Eastman Kodak Company as a research chemist. Bruce and Julie moved back to Maine in 1992 after his early retirement from Kodak. They now have two daughters and three grandchildren.
 

ART EDUCATION:
Self taught in marquetry over a period of about twenty years.

MARQUETRY - THE FINE ART OF VENEERING:
Marquetry is an ancient art, combining both great skill and design. It involves the careful and intricate placement of small pieces of veneers to form patterns. The woods are from all over the globe and yield an astonishing array of colors, grains and textures. Some bear exotic names like "Movingue" and "Padouk"; others are from our own familiar forests - oak, ash, cherry, walnut, maple and birch.
   

 Bruce has developed this art form in a very exciting and original way, starting out with antique quilt patterns and translating them into wood, often leading into his own wonderful, unique designs, many of which are fanciful interpretations of nature. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, and each is laborously hand cut, assembled and finished in his Pemaquid, Maine stidio with obviously tremendous skill, precision and meticulous care.

The works are finished with at least six coats of varnish and hand-rubbed to a beautiful, deep and lustrous shine. Because the wood is usually thought of as a functional medium, as in


furniture flooring, these pieces represent a truly original artistic concept. These are true works of art, shining with the rich colors and lusters that only fine wood can give.

In addition to art pieces, Bruce also makes chess boards, backgammon boards and dominoes and jewelry boxes. He has also worked in tandem with cabinet makers to produce tables of heirloom quality.

SHOWS AND AWARDS:
2016 – Dual Show with Julie Babb, Miles Memorial Hospital, Damariscotta ME
2014 – Solo Show, Pemaquid Watershed Assoc., Damariscotta ME
2010 - Corporate Purchase, Lincoln County Healthcare, Damariscotta ME
2007 – Dual show with Julie Babb, The Lincoln Home, Newcastle, ME
2006 – Juried show, MPBN – TV Auction, Portland ME
2005 Mar - Apr -- Dual show with Julie Babb - Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro, ME.
2000, 1999 -- Brookline Art Center Craft Show
1998 July -- Tenth Anniversary Exhibition, Round Top Center for the Arts
1997 to present -- Exhibit - Thomas Moser Showroom - Madison Ave. New York City
1997 -- Directions - The Maine Craft Guild shows - Bar Harbor, Falmouth and Augusta, Maine
1997 Summer -- Exhibition of Maine Woodworkers - Victorian Stable Gallery
1997 Summer -- Maine Coast Artists - Juried craft show
1996 Fall -- Portland Craft Show - Juried by Maine Crafts Association
1996 Summer -- Guest artist - Pemaquid Group of Artists
1996 - 1998 -- Continuing exhibit Thomas Moser Cabinetmaker showroom, Portland, Maine
1996 -- One-man show, "The Fine Art of Marquetry" - Miles Memorial Hospital
1994 -- Solo show - First National Bank of Damariscotta

GALLERIES AND RETAIL OUTLETS:
Pemaquid Art Gallery, Pemaquid Point, ME
The Good Supply, New Harbor, ME
Gifts at 136, Damariscotta, ME

ASSOCIATIONS:
Pemaquid Group of Artists

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