These quotes capture much of what I’m working for and say it better than I can say.

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

-William Morris

“There is a voice that doesn't use words. Listen.”
-Rumi

“The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon”

-Zen Buddist teaching

I am living & working as an artist & craftsman in Alaska.  I work with Wood, turning and carving bowls, plates, cups and spoons. I work with Clay throwing pottery cups, mugs and bowls. I love thinking of people using beautiful and natural pieces at home everyday.

I find an object especially interesting when I can see that it was made by human hands and when it suggests its place in nature, reminding us of ours. Handmade objects provide a relationship between maker and user, a human connection.  

As well as art & craft, I am passionate about wild places & wild experiences. I spend a lot of time exploring rivers, mountains, the sea & the wildlife that live in it. Boating, running, skiing, biking, climbing as well as quietly observing & meditating outdoors all inspire & help create connection & balance for me.   Living in Alaska makes this handy.

Other work I do.

Teaching has been a big part of my life. I’ve taught Special Needs PE in public schools and led university courses on wilderness skills, travel, kayaking, and packrafting. I’ve also taught at folkschools, museums, galleries, nature centers, and yurts — offering classes like spoon carving and basic woodworking.

In fieldwork, I’ve helped gather data for killer whale research in Kenai Fjords and Prince William Sound, and I’ve served as a research assistant studying the effects of landslides and tsunamis. I’ve participated in historical preservation projects on log buildings, including work at Dick Proenneke’s cabin. I’ve also worked as an ice-safety guide for a documentary production.

MEDIA/AWARDS:

• https://www.homernews.com/life/wood-carver-to-host-workshop-at-bunnell/

• 2022 Juror for Bunnell Street Art Center annual Community Supported Art project (community supported art).

• 2022 Featured in Brad Hillwigs "Creators" with Tony Perelli here. 7 minutes.

• 2022 Contributing artist with Bunnell St Art CSA program.

• 2021 Individual Artist Project Award. Rasmuson Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska.

• Outdoor Explorer Podcast. A nice talk with Paul Twardock and a small panel of Alaska outdoor gatherers. We talk about connection to wild places, mushrooms, berries etc. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/08/27/gathering-and-foraging-in-alaska/

• The Firnline Podcast. A great talk with Evan Phillips for the firnline podcast. We talked about carving spoons, living simply and about wilderness. Evan is a real creative, and he’s passionate about adventure and music culture. http://thefirnline.com/episodes/the-creative-path-tony-perelli/

• Alaska Public Media. Annie Fiedt visited my workshop yurt while we made awards for the Little A Triathlon. Annie does awesome radio and this event is very special too. http://www.alaskapublic.org/2016/04/29/ak-with-the-little-a-triathlon-a-father-grieves-and-gives/

Book list.

Sun House, David James Duncan

A Handmade Life, Wm. S. Coperthwaite

Loving and leaving the Good Life, Helen Nearing

Raven’s Witnes, Hank Lentfer

Payne Hollow, Harlan Hubbard

The Curve of Time, M. Wylie Blanchet

The Anarchist's Design Book, Christopher Schwarz

One Man’s Wilderness, from the journals of Richard Proenneke, Sam Keith

The Handcrafted Life of Dick Proenneke, Monroe Robinson

The Unknown Craftsman, Soetsu Yanagi

A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle

Living High, June Burn

Art as a Way of Life, Ann O’Shaughnessy & Roderick MacIver

Carving article in the Guardian

Adventures. I’ve not been active documenting my own adventures but have been lucky enough to be on adventures with folks who do, here are a few videos of shared adventure from outdoor adventurer Luc Mehl.

Packrafting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhKm2mmUkeY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIBq0YGZKns

Wild iceskating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlR_Z0iPafc