Early in his architectural studies, Peter Petrochko was challenged to explore–to carve into a six-inch cube of redwood with a mallet, gouge, and sandpaper. He spent 35 hours carving, and 30 more hours sanding the sculpture to a fine finish. The project recalibrated Peter’s career. He changed his field of study, leaving architecture to pursue fine arts and crafts.
One current focus of his work is wood vessels: from geometrically patterned bandsawn pieces to more natural containers carved from a single log. Another focus is sculpture: ranging from abstract carvings to organic constructions. His pieces traverse styles from elegant and simple to complex statements which explore the relationship between light, space, and mass.
Peter finds inspiration in the infinite beauty of the natural world.
He is heartened by ACE’s support of mental health issues, expressing a hope that society finally is beginning to take a different, more positive view of these challenges. He believes stigmas are rapidly fading and that we are coming to understand how closely mental and physical health are interrelated and vital to a healthy culture. He’s proud that his work can be a part of this endeavor.
Revel in more of Peter’s work on his website or join him in person at the American Craft Exposition (ACE) September 20-22, 2019 at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Tickets to ACE 2019 are available here now.