Blowing Rock, NC – On Thursday, February 20th, 2020, from 6:00 – 7:00pm, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will present a Thursday Art and Culture (TAC) Talk focused on the exhibition “Shared Spaces: Wildlife Wood Sculptures by Pete Lupo.”

Participants will receive a first-hand account of Lupo’s unique and incredibly detailed techniques and what inspires him to create new work. Lupo will share how he got started creating works of art, describing his progression from hobbyist to full-time artist.

Sculpting since 1983, Lenoir-based artist Pete Lupo brings an intimate knowledge of wildlife, their habitat, and their interaction with mankind. Growing up around his grandparents’ farms in rural southeastern North Carolina, he was rewarded with an awareness of the simple things of life — how a change in light can reveal color and form in everyday objects that so often go unnoticed — learning along the way that sometimes we must slow down in order to really see.

Lupo and his wife, Sheree, were drawn to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains because of the beauty that surrounds the area. Their home and studio overlooks the scenic Yadkin Valley in Caldwell County, North Carolina. Each day greets Lupo with views that are ever changing with the seasons; the squirrels, birds, deer, turkey, and other wildlife share their home with Lupo and his family.

Working primarily in Tupelo or Basswood, Lupo carves wildlife and man-made objects in a realistic style. Each component of a composition is carved entirely out of wood, then copper or brass sheets are hand-cut and shaped into flowers, leaves or grasses. He completes the process by applying multiple thin washes of acrylic paint to bring the piece to life. Each finished piece captures a moment of coexistence between beings.

When sharing about the inspiration behind his work Pete explains:

I was rewarded with an awareness of the simple things of life. How a change in light can reveal color and form in everyday objects that so often go unnoticed, learning along the way that sometimes we must slow down in order to see.

My works create moments that depict wildlife interacting within the human world. Man is changing nature to suit his own needs, often without regard to the creatures that share this world. Nature, when given the chance, finds a way to coexist with man.

The Zen masters have a word, ‘Satori,’ which means a moment of clarity or enlightenment. I wish to engage the viewer in a moment of connection between beings of a shared space. To become aware of these moments for what they truly are, gifts from the creator.

“Shared Spaces: Wildlife Wood Sculptures by Pete Lupo” is on display at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum until March 21st and features seven of Pete Lupo’s latest hyper-realistic woodcarvings of animals and wildlife “sharing space” with objects like old tin cans and frayed hats.

About TAC Talks

TAC Talks at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum bring collegiate level lectures to your neighborhood museum. Featuring scholars from around the country, the lectures are selected to provide supplemental information on our current exhibits or highlight the history and heritage of the mountains.

Free for members | $5 for non-members. Space is limited. Please arrive early.

The Museum is located at 159 Ginny Stevens Land on the corner of Chestnut and Main in downtown Blowing Rock, NC. The Museum is open year round Tuesday through Saturday, 10am – 5pm (from May – October, the Museum is also open on Sundays from 12pm – 4pm.)

For more information, please call (828) 295-9099 or visit www.blowingrockmuseum.org.

Photo: Pete Lupo. . Wood Carving. Courtesy of the artist. PeteLupo.com