Tom McKenna’s post last week about the box exhibit at the Messler gallery in Maine made me wish I could dart up the coast for a visit. I won’t get that chance anytime soon and, truth be told, Rockport is a little bit out of the way for most folks.

If, like me, you found yourself wanting to see more of the boxes, but with no chance to visit Maine anytime soon, don’t worry. As one commenter to Tom’s post pointed out, there’s a new book based on the pieces in the exhibition and the artists who created them.

New Masters of the Wooden Box is very thoughtfully done. Author and furniture historian Oscar P. Fitzgerald devotes a half dozen pages or so to each artist, offering a thorough and lively discussion of their backgrounds, inspirations and techniques. Each is illustrated with beautifully lit and detailed photos of the artist’s work. 

It’s not just the next best thing to the exhibit – it’s a great find all on its own.