George Peterson

Self-taught sculptor and lifelong skateboarder.

“For me, the adventure and challenge of sculpting lies in focusing on the natural tension and drama I find in the wood, and in contrasting and complimenting that drama with my expressive mark as an artist. I channel a lot of destructive energy into my art. The pieces are worked using chainsaws, hammers, chisels, fire axes, anything. I aim to create layers of machined and natural surfaces. The raw sculptures are 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 that I could never contrive. After the wood is dry, I then refine each piece through careful and deliberate study. I paint, polish, trim, sew, join and repeat if necessary, until the work is resolved.”