BELLEVUE, WA.- Bellevue Arts Museum’s featured solo exhibition of Northwest artist Michael Peterson begins its national tour schedule this fall. Evolution | Revolution is the first comprehensive look at Peterson’s poetic wood sculpture inspired by the craggy skies and misty rains of the Pacific Northwest.

“There is nothing more rewarding than being able to introduce artists from our own region to new audiences across the nation,” says BAM’s Director of Curatorial Affairs, Michael Monroe, who in collaboration with BAM Curator Stefano Catalani organized Peterson’s first solo museum exhibition.

Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution is one of four exhibitions conceived and curated by Bellevue Arts Museum that have traveled to other museum venues around the country* – a major accomplishment for both the artists and BAM. It is also one in a series of exhibitions and publications presented by Bellevue Arts Museum that highlights the richness and vibrancy of regional craft artists. “Shedding light on the incredible talent we have in this region while introducing national and international artists to this community is at the heart of our mission,” Catalani adds. “It’s all about stimulating conversation, new ideas and fresh perspectives on the blurring boundaries between art, craft and design.”

Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution Tour Schedule

San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design, San Francisco, CA
October 16, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX
March 26 - July 2, 2010

Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
July 23 - October 3, 2010

Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA
November 5, 2010 - February 2011

Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
March 25 - July 3, 2011

Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
August 6 - November 13, 2011

Exhibition Information
Following the unique trajectory of wood sculptor Michael Peterson over the past 20 years, Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution traces the evolution from the artist’s early lathe turned bowls to his current, revolutionary sculptures devoid of the lathe. Over 30 sculptures, inspired by the geographic environment of the Pacific Northwest, are on view at BAM until September 20, 2009.

Artist Biography
Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Peterson now resides on Lopez Island, one of the San Juan Islands in Washington, where he draws heavily from the surrounding environment. Peterson’s work has been featured in many exhibitions over the last 20 years, and can be found in public collections throughout North America, including: the Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY; the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Charlotte, NC and the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC among others.

Michael Peterson: Evolution|Revolution is organized by Bellevue Arts Museum, and co-curated by Michael Monroe, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Stefano Catalani, Curator. This exhibition has been made possible by the Windgate Charitable Foundation with additional support by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the City of Bellevue. A catalogue with essays by Robyn Horn, Matthew Kangas and Kevin Wallace accompanies the exhibition.

*The three other BAM originated, traveling exhibitions are: Mandy Greer: Dare alla Luce, A Tapestry of Memories: The Art of Dinh Q. Lê and Gary Knox Bennett: Call Me Chairmaker.