Mikkelsen’s Sculptures on Display at Schlow Library

Jim Mikkelsen’s graceful, organic wood sculptures highlight the inner beauty of the trees from which he carves them.

His sculptures will be on display at the Betsy Rodgers Allen Gallery at Schlow Library from June 2 through June 30.

A resident of Centre County, Mikkelsen’s love of wood and trees goes back to early childhood, inspired in large part by his dad’s horticulture business.

With his lifelong understanding of how plants and trees grow and respond to stresses in their environments, he strives to reveal each tree’s unique history in his work.

Mikkelsen has created his elegant pieces from more than 33 species of trees, all removed by arborists, landowners or loggers and originally destined for either firewood or the dump. He responds to the special characteristics of each tree, incorporating the striking natural defects from storms, insects and other phenomena in each sculpture.

A member of the Art Alliance of Central PA and a juried member of the PA Guild of Craftsmen, Mikkelsen’s award-winning works have appeared in numerous juried shows.

Like Schlow Library, this exhibition is free and open to the public.