Miles Peterson: Cypress Creations

This exhibition demonstrates a direct connection to Acadian heritage. Utilizing recycled, reclaimed cypress from area barns and buildings, Miles attempts to make furniture that is unique in its design. He tries to leave the wood with as much of the original character and patina as possible; old saw marks, blemishes in the wood, nail holes, wind etched sunbaked planks. This helps tell the story of the places they came from and what they have been through.

All of his pieces have a hand rubbed, Danish oil finish. The cypress rocking chair creation was requested by an acquaintance and over the past 20 years, has gone through several transformations. The stools, also made from a request, were a trial-and-error process. The benches were just something Miles wanted to do and have gone through several changes to create a refined, rustic look. The trunks and coffee tables were objects Miles experimented with until he found designs that were appealing.

Miles’ original designed cabinetry took a lot of self teaching to replicate an antique look. The picture frames were one of his first creations and came about as a result of Festival International de Louisiane. All of the wall hangings and the plant stand/bistro table were created with leftovers and drop-offs from other projects. When Miles create the wall hangings and plant stands, it allows him to go beyond straight lines and into a more artistic world. This play time provides him with the refocus he needs to complete or start new projects.