Bentwood Chest depicting Wolf, Thunderbird, and Killer Whale by Andy Peterson, Skokomish

Bentwood Chest depicting Wolf, Thunderbird, and Killer Whale, c. 2000By Andy Peterson, Skokomishred cedar, pigment23” height  x 31.5” width x 17” depthNote: According to Andy Peterson, this is one of the most spectacular carvings he has ever created. He noted this chest is a magical, one-of-a-kind carving, and would be impossible to duplicate as the old growth red cedar used had the perfect grain and patina.  Skokomish (Twana) Nation carver Andy Peterson was born in Shelton, WA in 1955. He has lived in the Skokomish community all of his life. Andy learned to make baskets and to gather basket materials with Skokomish elders Louisa Pulsifer and Emily Miller at the young age of 11.  At the age of eighteen he taught himself how to carve, paint and make bentwood boxes. His early work was mostly in the Northern style because that was most available and visible to learn from. In 1987, Andy graduated from the Evergreen State College with a B.A. While attending Evergreen, he assisted Makah arti