Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution
October 16, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Guest Curators:
Michael Monroe
Stefano Catalani
Exhibition Design:
Ted Cohen
Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution is organized by Bellevue Arts Museum. This exhibition has been made possible by the generous support of The Windgate Charitable Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design (SFMC+D) presents Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution, a collection of more than 30 distinctive sculptural works that showcases two decades of artistic progression, October 16, 2009 through January 3, 2010. The exhibition traces the evolution of Peterson’s work, from his early turned wood bowls to his current abstract works which feature complex, organic forms and textured surfaces created without use of the lathe. Twenty recent sculptures displayed alongside 15 vessel forms demonstrate Peterson’s development from wood turner to sculptor.
Using the burl portion of madrone, maple, elm, locust and other found timber, Peterson employs techniques such as bleaching, carving, sandblasting and pigmenting to transform the material into sculptural forms that evoke natural landscapes. Starting with multiple wet chunks of wood, Peterson carves and hollows the forms with chainsaws. As they dry, the pieces shrink and warp in unpredictable ways that intensify their grain patterns and surface textures. Peterson smoothes the edges and occasionally bleaches the pieces before layering them with multiple coats of pigment. He often wipes away pigment to create the illusion of depth. Peterson’s techniques aim to emulate natural processes, such as the effects of wind, water, sand and sun on surfaces and forms.
Many of Peterson’s works consist of groupings of forms, which can resemble birds, stones or other natural elements. In his most recent sculptures, he stacks multiple hollowed-out pieces in asymmetrical, vertical arrangements that are reminiscent of wave-tossed driftwood on a beach. Peterson’s work is heavily inspired by the physical environment of Lopez Island in Washington, where he has resided for more than 30 years.
“Evolution | Revolution highlights Peterson’s reverence for nature and organic processes, which has proven to be a key thread through his work,” said JoAnn Edwards, executive director of the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design. “Peterson demonstrates a captivating progression in technique and aesthetic while creating pieces that are quietly and consistently luminous.”
Peterson’s work has appeared in solo and group exhibitions over the past 20 years, and can be found in public collections throughout North America, including: Museum of Arts and Design (New York, NY); the Mint Museum of Craft + Design (Charlotte, NC) and the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC), among others.
Photos courtesy of Nora Atkinson.
PHOTO GALLERY
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Michael Peterson was born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1952. Peterson’s poetic wood sculptures are deeply inspired by his environment in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Lopez Island, where he has lived with wife Jean for the past 15 years. This exhibition follows the artist’s unique trajectory from his early works to his most current organic abstract forms realized through the mastery of the chainsaw. Peterson works with a variety of woods, including Maple, Madrone, and Blackwood. His techniques include lathe turning, carving, sandblasting, bleaching, and pigmenting the wood.
Peterson works primarily outdoors, without even a tarp to shield him in inclement weather. The artist begins with wet chunks of wood which he carves and hollows using a chainsaw. As the pieces dry, they shrink and warp in unpredictable ways, heightening the grain patterns and creating rich textures. His sculptures speak of birds, stones, wave-tossed driftwood and landscapes and quietly emanate a deep sense of spirituality and place.
