Pete Bauer & Candace Kreitlow
Pete Bauer and Candace Kreitlow, a husband and wife team, began creating collaborative sculptures in driftwood in the early 1990’s. While Candace has an extensive background in fiber, receiving her MFA followed by teaching textile design at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, she has always maintained an interest in the medium of wood.
As a former Air Force pilot and a thirty-year veteran of teaching and coaching gymnastics, Pete is a student of things that “move”. While his early work utilized wood indigenous to Wisconsin, a chance meeting with Oregon coast sculptor Steve Kuntz introduced Pete to the challenge and joy of driftwood carving. Under Steve’s influence and encouragement, Pete began working in the root systems of Redwood, Red Cedar, Port Orford White Cedar and Myrtlewood. He later expanded his wood sources to Hawaiian woods of Koa, Mango and Kiawe.
Pete and Candace met in 1991 and almost immediately discovered their shared interest in wood art. Candace enjoyed annual summer treks to the southern Oregon coast to visit friends and hunt for driftwood. Their subject matter is often abstract birds, fish as well as more realistic representations of seals and dolphins. Candace is instrumental to the design of each piece and enjoys the detail work of the eyes and head. Pete enjoys the rough out process and much of the sanding and finishing. In addition, he creates carved cutting and serving boards and burl bowls.
Pete and Candace made rural Bandon their permanent home in 2006 and took over the Second Street Gallery in Bandon in August of 2012. Their work can also be seen at Bamboo Gallery on the big Island of Hawaii, and Art on 23 in Spring Green WI.