Nick Hollibaugh’s Midwest roots are revealed in his exhibit at Alternatives’Spaulding Aldrich Heritage Gallery.

A native of Indianapolis, Hollibaugh’s “Crossroads” revisits his youth through a series of large wood sculptures that at first glance display his skill as a custom furniture maker. A longer look, however, makes known what he describes as a “beautiful, forgotten landscape” — a skyline of silos along the horizon of rural America, if you will.

“The type of thing you see at Alternatives is something I have been working at for the past six or seven years,” Hollibaugh said. “When I was living in Indiana, I was never really fascinated by it. But I really missed it after leaving. I liked the idea of seeing something on the horizon, but not knowing exactly what it was. I take a lot of photos when I am driving across the country and use those as a reference point for my work.”

Hollibaugh, 33, was fascinated with building as a youngster and later honed his skills with a series of carpentry jobs. “I loved using my hands,” he said.

Later, he received a bachelor’s degree from the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. Hollibaugh was then recruited by Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, where he earned a master’s degree in 2003 and also met his wife, Molly, a jeweler. The couple now lives in Douglas with their daughter. Hollibaugh works from a studio in Manchaug Mills.

In 2007, Hollibaugh received a $5,000 grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. He used the money to travel to Milan, Italy, where he studied handcrafted furniture at a renowned fair in the city.

When he is not supporting his family filling furniture orders, Hollibaugh crafts his sculptures, often working on several at a time, each in a different phase of production. The tools of his trade include table and band saws, planers and joiners.

“I’m usually working on more than one at a time, but it usually takes about three to four weeks to complete one piece,” he said. “It’s like a three-dimensional painting in a way.”

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Hollibaugh, who has also been involved with projects including retail design and teaching, was honored with a reception at Alternatives earlier this month.

His eight-piece exhibit includes a statement that describes his passion for wood sculpturing:

“I am standing along a road staring across a plain. My eyes focus on a group of objects far off in the distance. Framed by a desolate border, far enough away that my eyes reduce these objects into shapes. My mind automatically begins to personify feelings of stoicism and loneliness for these structures.

For a minute I feel very alone. I find myself trying to imagine what it would feel like be among these monolithic structures. This sense of space makes me feel humbled and small. I can hear whispers of life that had once been so important to this landscape. These forgotten and tired objects act as markers for a way of life that has almost completely faded away.

“This journey I have taken as an artist has led me down a path where these connections have become apparent and meaningful. The pieces I create capture the translation of this imagery as it goes from my head to my hand. There is a sense of emotion in the space, form and composition of this landscape that I aim to portray in my own work. The materials and techniques I Incorporate into these objects help to provide depth and relevance to the spirit of my inspirations. As I construct I cannot help but feel a lineage to this rich tradition of building by hand. I become grounded to the earth through this process … through these tangible objects.”

Hollibaugh’s “Crossroads” is on display at the Heritage Gallery through Jan. 29.