George Peterson
For George Peterson, the adventure and challenge of sculpting lies in focusing on the natural tension and drama found in wood, and in contrasting and complimenting that drama with expressive marks as an artist.
He channels destructive energy into his art. The pieces are formed from whole logs using chainsaws, hammers, chisels, fire axes,...anything. Peterson aims to create layers of machined and natural surfaces. The raw sculptures are then placed in a kiln so the wood can stabilize.
Often, during the drying process, the tension in the wood will cause a piece to warp and crack giving the forms an element of spontaneity. After the wood is dry, each piece is refined through careful and deliberate study. He then paints, polishs, trims, sews, joins and repeats if necessary, until the work is resolved.
