Building boom at Nexus Gallery

2x2x4 artists

Rick Hodges, of Nexus Gallery in Orono, wanted to take an idea and build on it, literally. In 2 x 2 by 4, Hodges challenged himself and three other artists to create works within the gallery using a supply of 2” x 2” lumber, a saw, and a nail gun.

The results are a playful yet thought-provoking exploration of wood and space by Hodges; his friend and fellow artist Jiri Ladocha; Toronto-based photographer Mats Nordstrom; and local Orono artist and teacher Tony Cooper. The site-specific pieces are rounded out by a few additional works by Ladocha and Cooper that also relate to the show’s themes.

Nexus Gallery: new art at the old mill

It catches the eye of most visitors. With its imposing size and striking roof-line, the old flax mill has long been a landmark of Orono, nestled between the creek and Main Street, right where the road takes a dip at the north end of town. And so, in September 2006, it caught the eye of Richard Hodges, a master furniture maker from Toronto.