Artists in residence

"At some point, every architect sits down and designs a chair," says Portland Museum of Art chief curator Thomas Denenberg . "It's the Frank Lloyd Wright syndrome."

The syndrome goes on display this weekend at the Portland Museum of Art with "Getting Personal: Maine Architects Design Furniture." More than a dozen Maine architects (or, in some cases, architects who regularly practice in Maine) have contributed work to the show, which runs through Aug. 26 . It's no coincidence that the exhibit runs in tandem with the museum's "Frank Lloyd Wright and the House Beautiful" show, which begins June 28. As an architect, Wright was just as concerned with interior environments as he was with a home's exterior design.

Architects were allowed to sketch their furniture designs with no restrictions, and then builders turned those napkin sketches into reality. The 15 resulting designs give an impression that Maine is a state where design is very modernist, and also very wood-centric. It is also apparent these architects design furniture that possesses more than a passing resemblance to their buildings .

"I'm sure in most cases they were completely unaware of the resemblance," says Peter Korn , executive director of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockland, Maine, and the creator of the show. "But if you look at the architect's portfolio, and then at the piece they designed, it's easy to see the similarities."

Korn, who has made furniture for more than 30 years, also noticed that architects look at furniture in a different way from builders.

"The architects approach the design of furniture much more conceptually," Korn says. "They come to an idea, and they really stay in a concept. Furniture makers start conceptually, but they pay a lot of attention to the ergonomics, and corners, edges, and tactile surfaces. They take it to a lot of levels that the architects didn't take it to."

Denenberg says he hopes the show reveals Maine's affinity for architecture and design.

"I think Maine has a very artsy, creative economy these days," he says. "There's also a tradition of Yankee ingenuity in shipbuilding, manufacturing, and woodworking. This show really puts all of those traditions in the spotlight."