WILD THING
Caldbeck Gallery, Rockland, Maine
Katherine Bradford, Lois Dodd, Dennis Pinette, Bernard Langlais, Jarid del Deo, Eleanor Conover, Grace Hager, Jana Benitez, James Prosek
curated by Melanie Essex
Sept. 5th - Oct. 18th, 2025
Wild Thing presents work by ten artists who have drawn on the untamed, the primordial, the unruly, and even the supernatural for inspiration. Nature and natural cycles predominate – even where the human presence is felt. The emphasis is on the undomesticated, open-air environments, elemental materials, flora, fauna, weather, and in some cases, humans in the wild (and being wild). We have Lois Dodd’s exuberant nudes frolicking in sunshine, contrasted with Katherine Bradford’s nocturnal couple outside the comfort of their domestic space in a dark landscape. Eleanor Conover and Jarid del Deo engage with landscape directly, each using a unique visual language to express the sensation of time and place. Jana Benitez describes her work as rooted in the tension between boundless energy and restraint, surrender and control. James Prosek’s sculptures of weathered wood, scoured by fire, offer narratives of rebirth and the fluidity of nature. Grace Hager’s ceramic sculptures of trees, like David Wilson’s woodland tableaux, present characterful avatars of things in the wild, slightly spooky, yet inviting. Dennis Pinette’s fire and wind paintings champion the power of natural elements. Bernard Langlais populated the ninety acres of his farm in Cushing Maine with sculptures carved from wood. In this cast of thousands, animals and animal spirits predominated. These acrobatic creatures are welcome contributors to this mix, perhaps reminding us to look around at what’s out there.
Exhibition text by Melanie Essex, installation documentation by Grace Hager