‘Making things is just a wonderful thing’: York County artist shines through ‘eco-modern’ furniture designs

‘Making things is just a wonderful thing’: York County artist shines through ‘eco-modern’ furniture designs

Peter Danko of Peter Danko Designs in York County is an award-successful woodworker and artist who patterns everything from chairs, to cabinetry to walking staffs.

YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Even although his operate has been highlighted in New York City’s Museum of Present day Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., Peter Danko is nonetheless chipping away at new initiatives from his humble studio in York County. 

As the owner and artist behind Peter Danko Design, he says his extended occupation has thrived less than a easy message: “Producing points is just a fantastic point.”

Crafting almost everything from chairs to walking sticks, Danko’s really like for woodworking and artwork nonetheless thrives 51 years immediately after graduating from the University of Maryland  in 1971.

Even so, Danko failed to completely faucet into his innovative niche through his wonderful arts classes in school – he characteristics that discovery to his write-up-graduate job at a h2o mattress warehouse.

“Future to the h2o mattress warehouse there was a wooden shop,” described Danko. “The man in the wood shop had a shopper who wished factors carved. He laminated these big parts of wood and I started out carving. And it was so awesome, I just cherished carrying out it.” 

Danko said his time working at that wood store motivated him to make furniture, the craft for which he is most regarded. Among plenty of accolades, his a person-piece plywood chairs landed him a coveted spot in the design selection of the Museum of Modern day Artwork (MoMA).

“I guess that is my claim to fame,” claimed Danko of the MoMA characteristic. 

Danko can take pride in both his modern types and the components he employs to build out his concepts. 

With sustainability remaining a main target of his function, Danko takes advantage of eco-welcoming materials like repurposed seat belts and salvaged wood. His overall business operates under a “a lot less is a lot more” mission, planning “furniture with a concentrate on sustainability, recycling, resource conservation and exciting,” in accordance to his site.

His really like of the outdoor and all-natural means is quickly found in his walking stick creations. The stick, which was impressed by Danko’s recurrent walks all over Lake Williams, is the two aesthetically intriguing and functional. 

“I started imagining how would I design and style a strolling stick that would genuinely operate if you’re likely uphill and downhill,” stated Danko. “…It is a true multi-functional mountaineering device. But this is amazing…and I imagine it helps make me appear cool to have this strolling stick. You know, individuals emphasis on the strolling stick and not the actuality that I am an aged kook.”

Danko’s walking sticks and his other broad-ranging layouts are all obtainable to search on his web page

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