"Structure; Sculptural Furniture," an exhibit of uniquely crafted woodwork, will open on Monday, July 16, in the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery at Coastal Carolina University. The exhibition is free and open to the public; it will run through Aug. 24.

As part of the exhibition, furniture designer Leah K. Woods will give a public lecture at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. The closing reception for the show will be on the same day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Woods, who is assistant professor of woodworking at the University of New Hampshire, creates work that pushes the boundaries between function and form. More sculptural than functional, her handcrafted woodworking challenges traditional notions of what furniture should be. Bent-laminated wood and dovetail joinery are employed to create forms reminiscent of restrictive forms and garments of women.

"My work has evolved from offering a practical function, as in the case of tables, desks and cabinets to suggesting use and focusing on the form; as in dress forms, mannequins and objects of body adornment," explains Woods.

"Woodworking and furniture-making become a shared language between the artist and the viewer, allowing the novel forms to communicate ideas about shape and desirability," says James Arendt, gallery director. "The sculptural objects on display are impressive works by a master craftsperson and will alter your conception of what furniture can be."

The Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery is located on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Fridays 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Arendt at 843-349-6409.