TOPSHAM — An installation of sculptural work by Bowdoin artist Susan Mills, who explores worlds not readily apparent to the eye, is on view at Maine Fiberarts’ gallery.

Featured in her “Tools to Equip the Shaman for Night Travels” exhibit are shamanic beings, flying carpets, spirit vessels and tools to access both inner and outer worlds.

Mills creates work using felted wool, found books, woven twigs, applied gold leaf and transformed mud and metal. Although the work is outwardly dark, themes are uplifting and speak to “drawing down the moon,” “retrieving lost voices,” and “harvesting stars.”

These are tools that shamans, age-old healers, along with their assistants and apprentices, use to retrieve souls, transform energies, heal the illusion of separation and bring our visible and invisible worlds together.

“My art is inspired by nature, by the physical world, and by the world of spirit. It is my way of recording my inner journey and embodies my search for a new myth, a metaphor that pierces the illusion of separation, honoring and illuminating both the visible and the invisible realms,” Mills writes.

“Healing the split between our inner and outer worlds, our bodies and souls, we heal both our selves and our planet. We are all individuals, yet we are all connected,” she continued.

Mills works in several mediums, including mixed media, photography, fiber, theatrical set design and costuming. Her work has been shown in galleries and museums on the East Coast, in the Southwest and on the island of Bermuda. She is manager at Markings Gallery in Bath.

“Tools to Equip the Shaman for Night Travels” will be on view through Feb. 15 at the gallery at 13 Main St. Mills will give an artist talk from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. (Snow date: Jan. 27, 2 to 5 p.m.) For a visual preview of the exhibition, visit www.mainefiberarts.org.

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