Art of Carving 4 Contemporary & Traditional Wood Sculptors

George Peterson

"I channel a lot of destructive energy into my art. I love to scar, break and burn the wood. I'll carve with a chainsaw, ax, chisels, fire…. anything. But that's just the first part. After that, layers of color and polish are added and parts are rejoined with stiching and steel. The forms, colors and textures are carefully and deliberatly considered until the work comes together."

In this show, Peterson uses two things close to his heart: skateboarding and environmental conservation. "This is my first series to use all recycled wood. I've been skating for 30 + years, so it's really cool to be able to incorporate this motif into my work and celebrate the skateboard as the modern icon it is."

Michael Bauermeister

"When one of my sons asked me to make something as big as he was, I sculpted a large vase. Then I wanted to make one as big as I was. Now that is what I do." He says his art is "human scale" wooden sculpture. "I have not encountered another wood turner working as large as I do, or using the textures or finishes or colors like I do. It is important to me to have my own 'voice.' "

The American folk art collection at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington includes two of his wood sculptures. In Russia and Abu Dhabi, his art is displayed in the lobby of the American embassies.

For Bauermeister to construct large pieces in shapes he enjoys, he had to develop his own method. The technique involves slicing separate layers of wood from a single block, and then stacking and gluing them back together into a contemporary shape using custom-made tools.

Recently, Bauermeister began adding color to his art. "I like my colors to look as if they occurred naturally," he says, . "I enjoy using the entire color vocabulary found in the natural world."

Wendy Lichtensteiger

I have been working on what I've been referring to as " Back to Basics". I have been carving for 10 years now, and I have been considering the fact that I do what I do because of the work of the pioneer decoy carvers, whose population is (sadly) quickly dwindling.

I love the act of carving wood, and working with my hands.
I love reclaiming what is thought to be waste, and creating something to be appreciated.
I love to observe my surroundings. I love taking photographs, listening to music, speaking with people, and translating these experiences.

Scott Crocker

After 25 years of carving full time here in Vermont, what keeps me engaged is the creative process Coming up with an idea then seeing the progression unfold still intrigues me. The concept becomes a design. As I carve, an image slowly emerges from the wood. In the end, the finally, I see the completed form. There is always a great satisfaction when what was seen in my minds eye has taken on it's physical form and stands in front of me.