How to Home Podcast: Cabin Retreat with Mind Tree Arts

Cabin Retreat with Mind Tree Arts | HTH 022

Jun 18, 2019

This week Aaron and Tracy chat with artist Peter Staley about blending creativity and construction.

LET’S CHAT!

You can always call and leave your questions and comments on our voicemail!

978-709-1040

QUICK FACTS ABOUT PETER’S WORK:

- Peter refers to his structures as shrines to nature.

- His first woodworking was building stretchers for paintings and then he moved on to set design.

- Once he built his own store (his wife’s kids shop), a lot of people had him start building their stores. He likes to bring nature inside.

- Recently he’s been building a lot of cabins, which was a natural progression after building a work cabin for his wife’s second store. His latest cabin is a liveable space, 200 sq ft with a sleeping loft and outdoor shower.

- His nature inspiration stems from his time in the Adirondacks as a child. https://visitadirondacks.com

- Peter can look at a space and visualize what he wants to do with it.

- Peter sees his builds as art and it’s a very spiritual process.

- His favorite materials are: cedar and shou sugi ban.

- He loves buying from Angel City Lumber- https://www.angelcitylumber.com

- Peter feels this medium is the one that connects with people the most, whereas his art doesn’t necessarily connect with everyone.

- Peter’s tip for creating a more functional small space is: laying stuff out with blue tape and seeing how it would feel to move around in the space.

- “I would like someone to enter a space I made and have a spiritual experience.”

- Peter’s suggestion for the beginner: “Get some tools and start playing around. Make a box!”

- Peter believes everything needs to go as green as possible. He’d like to see a return to natural and comfortable materials.

SOCIAL QUESTIONS:

Q: Do you feel you have a signature style?

A: Not on purpose, but yes. Peter doesn’t try to make things in his style, it’s just his natural progression.

Q: How long is the planning process?

A: A couple of weeks.

Q: Where does your inspiration come from with your art?

A: It just comes to Peter and he needs to get it out.

Q: Is it hard to see a structure decorated in a way that doesn’t fit your intention for the space?

A: At first it is, but then you get used to it.