Rekindled

Lynne Shulman
June 29 – August 25, 2023
Maine Jewish Museum

Inspired by folk art traditions and her love of the natural world, Lynne Shulman’s sculptures and reliefs explore narratives of human and animal connections. Shulman incorporates found and vintage objects into her detailed wood carvings; through this integrative process, she considers the beauty and former purpose of these objects—a vintage wooden spool, a shuttle from a closed Maine woolen mill—in order to rekindle metaphor and meaning. Each piece relies on an understanding of the unique qualities of the specific subject, such as the acrobatic movement of a charm of hummingbirds framed by the remnants of a lobster trap. Shulman applies subtle and meticulous detail to transform her subjects from purely representational models to expressive and emotive works of art.

This is Lynne Shulman’s second exhibition at the Maine Jewish Museum, after a highly successful show in 2019. She has been an artist and art educator in Maine for over 45 years. Since graduating from Pratt Institute (BFA) and SUNY New Paltz (MSAE), she has worked in a variety of sculptural media and methods, each affording her a unique way to communicate her artistic vision. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout Maine. Since her retirement from teaching art, she has focused her attention on creating wood sculptures, drawing upon her experiences along coastal Maine and her travels beyond.