Folk Arts - Master Artist - Pete Peterson Sr.

Pete Peterson Sr. Photo by Fritz Dent.

Pete Peterson Sr. is a Skokomish tribal member and a master Salish carver. Peterson’s carving uses indigenous woods to create bentwood boxes, masks, totem sculptures and other Native forms. Near his home in Hoodsport, Washington, Peterson consciously harvests wood from downed trees. He prefers to work as close to traditional methods as possible and uses the imagery and colors of the Skokomish that date back as long as anyone can remember. Peterson has taught dozens of people how to carve through informal apprenticeships, generously guiding Native students who wish to learn their cultural traditions. He has also shared his work with and influenced many more individuals as an Artist in Residence at The Evergreen State College Longhouse from 1998 to 2003.

In 1999, Peterson received the first of three Folk Arts Apprenticeship grants. With this grant, Peterson taught his apprentice Spencer Morris a range of activities including the gathering and preparation of Native materials for Salish style carving. He taught Morris tool making and how to use tools and materials according to traditional methods. A primary focus was on the construction of bentwood boxes.

As a recipient of a 2000 Apprenticeship grant, Peterson worked with Kareem Stepetin of the Chehalis tribe. Stepetin came to Peterson with a solid background in drawing and painting and had studied cedar bentwood box construction and design with him for over a year. Peterson showed Stepetin how to select and obtain red and yellow cedar wood and also taught the fine techniques needed to create masks and other carved objects. Part of Peterson’s teaching included invaluable insights into marketing carved artwork. Stepetin’s work was shown in three local galleries and museums and, with Peterson's encouragement, he attended the 2001 Gathering of Indigenous Artists of the Pacific Rim where he learned from some of the world's finest indigenous artists.

As a recipient of a 2003 Apprenticeship grant, Peterson taught James De La Cruz to carve in the traditional Salish style with native woods. He focused on teaching De La Cruz how to harvest cedar, how to obtain carving tools, and how to develop a repertoire of basic carving skills. As a member of the Quinault tribe, De La Cruz wishes to carry traditional Skokomish arts into the future.

In 2007, Peterson received Washington State's highest artistic honor as the recipient of a Governor's Heritage Award.

In 2008, Peterson was awarded a Folk Arts Fellowship. This Fellowship honors Peterson for his Excellence in Salish Carving, particularly for the passionate approach he takes to his work and his willingness to teach this important art form to others.

Peterson’s other honors include acknowledgement from the First People’s Fund with a Community Spirit Award in 2004 and a Cultural Fellowship Award in 2006. His work has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the Fund for Folk Culture, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.