Laura Petrovich-Cheney
featured with
Sarah Faragher and Rose Edwards
May 22 -June 21
Reception Saturday, May 30, 4-6
These vibrant wood sculptures bridge two distinct contemporary craft media—wood and fiber. Following the tradition of quilting, I create colorful sculptures using both traditional and modern patterns. These "wood quilts" address personal and environmental themes, drawing inspiration from feminism and traditional women's arts like needlework, weaving, and quilting. By repurposing discarded materials, I aim to reveal traces of personal histories, identity, and shared humanity. Many of these materials come from homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, including my own, and are sourced from discarded domestic items. Through my work, I encourage viewers to reflect on concepts of home, safety, and the environmental impact of our shifting climate. In the spirit of generations of quilters, I transform these meaningful remnants into a fully realized art form, repurposing the past into something enduring.
~Laura Petrovich-Cheney
"Buttoned Up". repurposed wood construction. 15" x 15". $500 sold
Every alternate square in this work contains a small central block—a sculptural “button” that
pulls the pattern inward and adds depth to the surface. These tiny elements create a steady
visual cadence, balancing the bold color fields with moments of quiet precision. Their repetition
gives the piece a refined architectural quality, while their scale adds intimacy. It’s a
sophisticated interplay of geometry, rhythm, and the subtle pleasure of detail.
pulls the pattern inward and adds depth to the surface. These tiny elements create a steady
visual cadence, balancing the bold color fields with moments of quiet precision. Their repetition
gives the piece a refined architectural quality, while their scale adds intimacy. It’s a
sophisticated interplay of geometry, rhythm, and the subtle pleasure of detail.
"Front and Center" repurposed wood construction. 20" x 20". $900
This piece is inspired by my well-loved denim shorts, a summer favorite for nearly twenty years. Worn and patched countless times, they symbolize resilience and nostalgia. Their connection to the beach and deep blues of the ocean influenced this artwork, featuring stenciled details that mimic the playful, effortless feel of mended denim. It celebrates the timeless joy of cherished memories and simple pleasures.
"Round and Round" repurposed wood construction 15" x 15": $500 sold
Salvaged wood with original paint, assembled into a concentric pattern that builds through repetition and variation. Arranged in a continuous ring, the composition turns on small shifts and accumulated decisions, framed by half-square triangles that hold and contain the movement.
"Sunkissed" repurposed wood construction 15" x 15" x 1". $500 sold
Sun Kissed captures the quiet radiance of light moving across a landscape. Formed from
salvaged wood, each curved piece becomes a small arc of color—soft yellows, warm corals,
deep blues, and weathered neutrals—echoing the shifting glow of the sun at different moments
of the day. The repeated quarter-circle forms create a gentle rhythm, like sunlight slowly
sweeping across a room. It’s a work that holds warmth, memory, and the subtle beauty of
illumination.
salvaged wood, each curved piece becomes a small arc of color—soft yellows, warm corals,
deep blues, and weathered neutrals—echoing the shifting glow of the sun at different moments
of the day. The repeated quarter-circle forms create a gentle rhythm, like sunlight slowly
sweeping across a room. It’s a work that holds warmth, memory, and the subtle beauty of
illumination.
"Keyed In" repurposed wood construction 21.5" x 21.5". $900 sold
Keyed In organizes salvaged wood into a grid that suggests a
functional system—part quilt, part circuitry. Scale shifts
between large and small units create a steady rhythm across
the surface. A single keyhole fragment remains, marking a
point of access within an otherwise closed structure.
functional system—part quilt, part circuitry. Scale shifts
between large and small units create a steady rhythm across
the surface. A single keyhole fragment remains, marking a
point of access within an otherwise closed structure.
"The Good Neighbor" repurposed wood construction 30" x 30" $4,500
This work explores the moment when two lives intersect—one house in crisis, another offering presence and support. Built from salvaged wood gathered from communities marked by upheaval, the paired houses embody resilience and the quiet strength of human connection. Together, they become a reminder that even small gestures of care can bring light into difficult moments.
"Migration" repurposed wood construction. 21.5 x 21.5. $900 sold
In Migration, the geometry of the Flying Geese block becomes a
study in subtle movement. Reclaimed wood
fragments—already marked by use and age—are arranged into
a steady, directional flow. The muted colors and careful
construction hold the work in balance, where motion is felt
through accumulation rather than force.
"Seaglass Dreams". repurposed wood construction. 30" x 30". $4,500
Sea glass teaches us that beauty can rise from brokenness—that time, pressure, and movement can transform flaws into something luminous. That same quiet resilience is at the heart of this piece. Drawing on a coastal palette of fog grey, seafoam green, azure blue, sunshine yellow, and coral red, I arranged salvaged wood into a kaleidoscope-like pattern. The composition echoes the rhythms of the shoreline: fragments reshaped, colors softened, and chaos settling into calm.
"School Uniforms" repurposed wood construction 15" x 15" $500 sold
- This piece, “School Uniforms,” was created in late August, when early sunsets, cooler nights, and the first whisper of turning leaves hint at the shift of seasons. It takes me backto my Catholic school days—wearing a uniform that stayed itchy until October, clearlydesigned by someone with an unusual sense of fashion. The work that bittersweet mix of nostalgia and change, when the carefree days of summer give way to structure and routine.
"Memories of San Marco" repurposed wood construction 15" x 15". $500
Memories of San Marco is inspired by the intricate Terrazzo flooring of Venice's iconic San Marco Cathedral.
The piece evokes the striking contrast between the cathedral's dark, quiet interior and the brilliant light reflecting off the canal water outside-its surface shimmering and sparkling like scattered gems. This fleeting interplay of shadow and light left a lasting impression, captured here in the form of texture.
The piece evokes the striking contrast between the cathedral's dark, quiet interior and the brilliant light reflecting off the canal water outside-its surface shimmering and sparkling like scattered gems. This fleeting interplay of shadow and light left a lasting impression, captured here in the form of texture.