Knock wood: Masters show off their artwork

The Long Island Museum resumes its "Long Island Masterworks" series of exhibitions, launched two years ago with "Masterworks on Paper," by going to the source of paper.

"Masterworks in Wood," while limited to three nationally recognized Long Island artists, is limitless in imagination. A cross between painting and sculpture, practicality and peculiarity, these artworks present wood as a medium of tangible expression.

The artists selected by curator Bill Ayres -- David Ebner of Brookhaven hamlet, Randall Rosenthal of Springs and William King of East Hampton -- are as different as carvers are from cartoonists.

DAVID EBNER When Ayres was scouting around for examples of Ebner's "art furniture" for the show, he turned to friends in Head of the Harbor. Elisabeth Palmeto, a singer, bought a music stand from Ebner years ago. "It's seen quite a lot of use," says Ayres, "including being knocked down by a soccer ball more than once." Upon hearing this, Ebner returned the piece to his studio for refinishing before its museum debut.

Other pieces, such as a functional wicker rocker owned by Jody Brown and Joanne Neppell of Setauket, have been more sheltered. "You go to their house," says Ayres, "and they'll tell you, graciously, 'You can't sit on that.' "

East Setauket hedge fund billionaire James Simons loaned two side tables, saying they are among his favorite precious objects. Most striking in form and function is the oversized onion chest from Ebner's collection. It serves both as storage and coat rack.

RANDALL ROSENTHAL "It's not photo realistic or trompe l'oeil," insists Rosenthal. But when you look at his "Lunch Money" pile of cash or "Sweet Memories" baseball card collection, you'd never guess each was carved from a single piece of Vermont pine. ("Because it holds the paint," the artist says.) But then you remember the show is "Masterworks in Wood." Most pieces are on loan from the artist's collection.

His paper-imitating art form began when he was commissioned to create a Bible lectern and, for the top, he carved an open Bible.

One secret Rosenthal shares in an accompanying video: "Whenever you see a folded corner, that's where the wood broke."

WILLIAM KING You'll get no such admission from King about his elongated, whimsical human figures. "What do I do when I make a mistake?" he asks on his video. Looking straight into the camera, he answers: "I don't make mistakes!"

Most of King's creations, such as the amusing and mildly subversive "Judgment in Paris" -- four begowned figures arranged in cocktail party pose -- are on loan from the Pamela Williams Gallery in Amagansett.

Lately, King has turned to soft woods. "Balsam -- an aging artist's best friend," says the octogenarian. Of his sense of humor, so evident in his work, King says wryly: "Misery loves comedy."

WHAT "Long Island Masterworks in Wood"

WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and Columbus Day, through Nov. 11 at Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages, 1200 Rte. 25A, Stony Brook

INFO $9, $7 seniors, $4 students; longislandmuseum.org, 631-751-0066

'Works in Wood'

WHAT In conjunction with "Masterworks in Wood," nearby Gallery North presents "Works in Wood," a group show that includes more of David Ebner's art furniture as well as wood-based art by Russell Ebner (no relation), John Cino, Don Lindsley and the Usher brothers.

WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 9 at Gallery North, 90 North Country Rd., Setauket

INFO Free; gallerynorth.org, 631-751-2676