Heather Hietala at Momentum Gallery, Opening May 9

In Finnish, “hietala” means “place of sand.” It’s an apt name for Heather Hietala, a mountain creative who grew up canoeing and sailing along the Maine coast and now, according to her artist’s statement, “travels to the ocean as much as possible.” This passion for water is reflected in Hietala’s long-running series of work which features small-scale canoes, paddles, sailboats, weaving shuttles, and kayaks made from wood-fired ceramic, wire, fabric, and other materials. These vessels, says Hietala, are moored by metaphor. “Each piece has a place of equilibrium, where the elements achieve a place of equipoise — poised to move again, yet for a moment at rest.” In May, the artist will dock at Momentum Gallery for a solo showcase running through late June. During this time, the downtown venue will also host Samantha Keely Smith, a Brooklyn-based painter whose work explores the human psyche through bold, gestural brushstrokes reminiscent of thunderous horizons and tempestuous waters. Idaho artist Brian Sostrom will make a splash, as well, with cloudscapes and waves captured using translucent acrylics on specially developed substrates.