The next exhibition at Two Villages Art Society in Hopkinton, entitled “Whose Woods These are, I Think I Know,” will run from Saturday, April 24 through Saturday, May 24. This exhibit features the work of artists Kathleen Dustin, Dan Dustin, and Donna Zils Banfield. The creators collaborate across different media, bringing their skills and aesthetics together in a unique exhibit. Using nature and natural forms as a base, they create wood sculptures, jewelry, hanging pieces and vessels that take whimsical and unexpected forms. All three artists are juried members of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

“Whose Woods These are, I Think I Know” will have an opening reception on the first day of the exhibit from 12-2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and live music will be performed by Craig Fahey.

Kathleen Dustin, of Hopkinton, is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading polymer clay artists. She exhibits around the U.S. and in Europe, and her work is in the permanent collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and other museums.

Dan Dustin, also of Hopkinton, is known for beautiful, functional spoons carved from mountain laurel and other locally sourced woods. He has pieces in the permanent collections of the Currier Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, and the Hopkinton Historical Society. 

Donna Zils Banfield is a fine-craft woodturner living in Derry. She uses a sawmill to cut logs into manageable sizes. 

“Once inside my studio, I use the lathe to create my form, or my wood canvas upon which I cut, carve, pyro-engrave, and paint,” Banfield said. “The final object takes on a new identity. Without close observation, you might never know it was wood.” 

The collaboration stems from Kathleen Dustin’s fascination with the unusual portions of wood left over from Dan Dustin’s spoon and bowl making. She initially resisted incorporating natural elements into her work with polymer clay and other synthetic materials. Because of wood's versatility, these craftsmen juxtapose it with other materials in unexpected ways to make objects, many of which are functional but hardly ordinary. They decided to collaborate on some pieces, and sought out a third artist, Donna Zils Banfield, who brings carving, woodburning, and a wide range of color to her pieces. 

The gallery is located at 846 Main Street in Hopkinton’s Contoocook Village. The exhibit is free and open to the public on Thursday through Sunday from 12-4 p.m. The current show, featuring the work of David M. Carroll, Laurette Carroll, Sean Carroll, Riana Frost, and Michael Couture, closes on Saturday, April 19. The gallery will be closed April 20-25. 

Two Villages Art Society is a non-profit, member-driven art association with a gallery located at 846 Main Street in Hopkinton’s Contoocook Village. It was voted Best of NH in the category of art galleries by New Hampshire Magazine in 2024 and 2022. Membership is open to all, and admission to exhibits is free. For more information, visit https://www.twovillagesart.org/