Blue Peter Woodworks
When not preparing
Panacea for an upcoming season of sail or sailing her
hard through the summer season or putting her to bed at
season's end, Peter McCrea spends his time behind the lathe in
his woodworking shop. In the nautical world, the signal flag for
the letter P is a blue flag with a white square in the center.
When flown from the mast, it signifies the vessel is preparing
to sail - a ready state for Panacea and her captain.
A woodworker for
most of his life, Peter has narrowed his focus to the art of wood
turning, finding the tactile pleasure of turning unique wood objects
to be both sensually and spiritually rewarding.
"I engage
in a sort of dialogue with each piece, constantly monitoring and
assessing evolving grain and patterns of rim, bark and voids,
letting these attributes dictate the direction the form will take."
Favorite woods
for turning are those that exhibit considerable "character,"
so that the turning experience becomes one of releasing the hidden
beauty within the burl, crotch or spalted log section. The design
of each piece is suggested by the wood's initial form, but strongly
influenced by the process of revealing inner structure and beauty.
