The Society for Contemporary Craft serves up one more example this weekend of why it has gained international prominence in the art/craft field: A mind-tingling and visually playful exhibition of contemporary works in wood made in studios ranging from Nova Scotia to Hawaii.

The Strip District gallery, shop and educational facility originated in 1971 in Verona under the visionary eye of the late Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael. This exhibition is the seventh in a biennial series of juried competitions begun in her honor by her daughters in 1997. It opens from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday with work by 25 finalists (free).

Raphael Founder's Prize winner Christian Burchard will receive $5,000 plus a purchase award for his "Days of Summer by the Pond," a large wall sculpture reminiscent of an abstracted torso, which will enter the society's collection. He will also be featured in the exhibition catalog and a video.

The exhibition title, "Transformation 7: Contemporary Works in Wood," refers to its number in the series, the continuing theme of transformation, and the entry medium. Five media -- glass, wood, small metals/jewelry, ceramics and found objects -- are visited in rotation, and 1999 wood prize-winner David Sengel's "Haloed" and video are displayed.

The competition's reputation continues to grow among artists and potential jurors, resulting in shows equal to the best anywhere in the country.

Michael Monroe, director of curatorial affairs, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, Wash., and Craig Nutt, internationally recognized Tennessee furniture maker and sculptor, affirm this in juror statements that praise the overall quality of submissions, as well as point out the value of the handmade to our technologically permeated culture and the inherent mystery of artistic process.

Burchard, a German native who moved to the U.S. in 1978, operates Cold Mountain Studio near Ashland, Ore. His delicate and sensuous sculpture, fastidiously created from bleached Mandrone burls, belies preconceived notions of wood.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Virginian Katie Hudnall for "Symbiosis #1: Table With Drawer," a delightful blend of function and form comprising found scraps and joinings that give it an insect-like aspect; and Philadelphian Matthias Pliessnig, whose woven, steam-bent white oak "Waive" sculpture/bench, was designed using computer programs.

Travis Townsend of Lexington, Ky., received a merit award for "Raft for --- (City of Triumph Abandoned)," a fanciful-appearing construct, inside and out, which wavers between child's toy and social commentary (think New Orleans, for example).

But this is a full house and other noteworthy works include Tom Eckert's stunning trompe l'oeil "Gossamer Levitation," that looks like it stepped out of a Salvador Dali painting (yes, it's all wood); Griselda Elena Pena's imaginative hickory and encaustic "Marked Natural," which may be worn; Rich Tannen's exquisite mahogany and lacquer "Vessel" (ask a society staff member to lift the lid); and "Dancers on the Light," a wall composition of mayflies in flight as gossamer as its subject, by Pittsburgher Ron Layport, the only local artist selected.

Altogether, the exhibition speaks highly of the state of contemporary woodwork, and shows that imagination is boundless.

Several artists will attend Friday's opening reception and from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, when Burchard will talk about his work ($5).

Complementary exhibitions include works by Turner's Anonymous, the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, in the Studio, and an installation by Nutt. Pittsburgh wood artist and furniture maker Tadao Arimoto will be available Friday evening and from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday to discuss his handsome functional works in The Store.

"Transformation" continues through Jan. 2 at 2100 Smallman St., Strip District. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. For information, call 412-261-7003 or visit www.contemporarycraft.org.

A free public forum to discuss artist intent and the effect of environment upon an artwork, generated by public response to the color change of the sculpture "Pipe Theme in Red Orange" by the late Josefa Filkosky, will be held at 7 tonight in Reeves Theatre, Seton Hill University, Greensburg. Panelists will be university President JoAnne Boyle; Kathleen Mendus Dlugos, professor of art, Westmoreland County Community College and Seton Hill alumna; Amber Morgan, alumna; and Seton Hill students Ashlan Luft and Tommy Caruso. Information: 724-830-1071 or www.setonhill.edu.

Sharp-eyed reader Harry Schwalb called to correct my report last week that artist Aaronel deRoy Gruber is working into her ninth decade. At age 91, she is actually actively in her 10th.

The ornery activist performance group Yes Men took on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday via a faux press conference in Washington, D.C., that drew attention to the chamber's environmental stance. CMU's Miller Gallery is currently touring an exhibition of their work.

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