| peter maslow: renovations |
It all began when I was five, when my dad bought me a box of Legos. Instead of
TV it was building stuff, little playlands, quasi dioramas. Later, when I was ten,
my mother's father, a Finnish farmer up in Massachusetts, had me help him build
a tree house without putting a single nail into the living tree. He showed me
how to wedge the frame in, without even damaging the bark, and then to clad it
cutting around even the smallest limbs. I remember things like this, on occasion,
when I am working now. There is a spirit of efficiency, of structure, of not
wasting time, material or money, of finding the most sensible route to the desired
end. This is where my renovation work and ethic crosses over into my paintings.
They have both become my art.
When I was a sophomore in college I had a carpet cleaning business called
Fandango, which was my call sign in school. But my artist's eye got me into
house painting, plastering, eventually into building walls and fine carpentry. I
figured out it wasn't brain surgery, redoing a kitchen or bathroom, it just needed
a good eye for detail, good common sense, and motivation. Make sure the
foundation is good, the structure is sound, the connections tight, and the
surfaces smooth, and that the toilet flushes down (not out). And of course, that
the home owner is thrilled.
You are what you do, your character is determined by your actions, moment to
moment, and so you better do well and do right. I only work for and with people
I respect. I feel it's my job as the contractor to protect the client by finding the
most efficient ways to get the job done. I only do one job at a time, start to
finish, so nothing drags on because of me. My business is all word of mouth, I
have never advertised, and so I rely on the quality of my work and the honesty
of my service to keep me going.
Many former clients are return clients. I can supply you with references upon
request.
TV it was building stuff, little playlands, quasi dioramas. Later, when I was ten,
my mother's father, a Finnish farmer up in Massachusetts, had me help him build
a tree house without putting a single nail into the living tree. He showed me
how to wedge the frame in, without even damaging the bark, and then to clad it
cutting around even the smallest limbs. I remember things like this, on occasion,
when I am working now. There is a spirit of efficiency, of structure, of not
wasting time, material or money, of finding the most sensible route to the desired
end. This is where my renovation work and ethic crosses over into my paintings.
They have both become my art.
When I was a sophomore in college I had a carpet cleaning business called
Fandango, which was my call sign in school. But my artist's eye got me into
house painting, plastering, eventually into building walls and fine carpentry. I
figured out it wasn't brain surgery, redoing a kitchen or bathroom, it just needed
a good eye for detail, good common sense, and motivation. Make sure the
foundation is good, the structure is sound, the connections tight, and the
surfaces smooth, and that the toilet flushes down (not out). And of course, that
the home owner is thrilled.
You are what you do, your character is determined by your actions, moment to
moment, and so you better do well and do right. I only work for and with people
I respect. I feel it's my job as the contractor to protect the client by finding the
most efficient ways to get the job done. I only do one job at a time, start to
finish, so nothing drags on because of me. My business is all word of mouth, I
have never advertised, and so I rely on the quality of my work and the honesty
of my service to keep me going.
Many former clients are return clients. I can supply you with references upon
request.
