Metal sculptor Peter Wood now has studio in Paw Paw

A "Meet the Artist" reception for metal sculptor Peter Wood is scheduled on Friday, August 17 from 5-7 p.m. on the porch of Lot 12 in Berkeley Springs.

The restaurant has two of Wood's large lifelike metal sculptures—"Man" and "You, Me and Baby" on display in their garden. Both pieces are for sale. "Man" was displayed at the Washington, D.C. United Sculpture Park from August 2000 until April 2001.

Wood's metal sculptures have been featured at the U.S. Botanical Gardens, in Artomatic 2007 in Arlington, Shock and Awe: Artists look at War in Washington, D.C., the Arlington Ellipse Art Center, the Falls Church City Arts Center, the Arlington County Central Library and many juried shows, art events and exhibits in Virginia and Maryland.

Wood is a member of the Ice House Artist Co-op where some of his work is showcased. The Ice House "All About Metal" art show that ran from July 6 through August 12 featured three of Wood's sculptures.

Wood lives in Middleburg, Virginia and has a home outside of Paw Paw. He has been making metal sculptures for about 10 years. Wood gardens a lot and began making metal sculptures because he wanted art for his garden.

Free-flowing movement

Wood uses metals such as rusted and new steel, copper, found objects, old farm machinery and natural fibers. He bends, cuts, shapes, bolts or welds the metal to create imaginative natural and painted images of free-flowing movement.

Wood designs and creates large-scale sculptures for estates, gardens or interiors and smaller works and wall hangings for intimate settings. He also does commissioned pieces. "Man" is his largest sculpture and one of his favorites.

Wood's commissioned work, "Whispers," has four metal pieces that move slightly in the breeze and create the impression of moving branches talking in the wind. He also made a series of sculptures from agricultural plow discs using his welding torch to create indentations and designs.

Inspired by natural

landscape

Wood's sculpture evokes his memories of the natural landscape of his family's farm. When he was younger, Wood saw old rusted farm implements laying around and would sometimes arrange them together.

"I thought if I could weld, I could combine them more permanently," said Wood.

He took an art welding class at the Art League in Alexandria, Virginia and began making garden sculptures.

Wood works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as his day job. He has degrees in forestry and entomology from West Virginia University.

Spending six years in Morgantown at the

university was the catalyst for his move to Paw Paw. Wood came to love West Virginia and its people.

Paw Paw was close enough to the metro area that he could travel back and forth.

"It's such a beautiful area," said Wood of Paw Paw.

With Berkeley Springs being an art town, "it had everything I wanted," he said of his second home.

Whimsical, calming art

Wood described his work as whimsical, with a little humor in it. He tries to find the positive in things and create a good feeling in his works. The feeling of movement in his pieces is very calming and relaxing, Wood said.

Wood is excited about having his metal sculptures at Lot 12.

"It's one of my favorite restaurants," said Wood.

For more information about Wood's sculpture, go to www.rustymetal.com.