Workhouse Artist Megan Peritore and Connecting with Nature

Workhouse Arts Center artist Megan Peritore has found a new purpose in life: Understanding what it's all about with photography and polymer clay. 

Many of Peritore's sculptures depict human forms attached to actual pieces of driftwood. The necks are craned skyward, almost longingly. It's as if Peritore is bringing out the character of the driftwood, or at least establishing a spiritual connection. 

"I like the intercommunication with all living creatures and nature," Peritore told Patch. "We're all made from the same stuff and sometimes I feel quite heartbroken with what we're doing to the material world."  

Peritore can paint and draw, but mostly sticks to ceramics, photography and sculpture. She was born and raised in Durbin, South Africa, and knew she wanted to be an artist when she was nine years old. 

"I never got in trouble for doodling in class," she said, "but it made for interesting margins down the sides of my notes." 

But practicality and a stern college counselor discouraged her from pursuing art in college, and she graduated with a degree in English from Durbin University. She taught high school English in South Africa, and later when she moved to Virginia with her first husband. 

The life of a teacher didn't suit Peritore, and after meeting and marrying her second husband, photographer Anthony Peritore, she decided she'd had enough of teaching and wanted to pursue her dream. She enrolled in Northern Virginia Community College and the Torpedo Factory and began honing her artistic abilities. 

"I think the time had come when I really wanted to focus on my artwork. It was a burning desire that got stronger and stronger," she said. "I loved ceramics, but when I got my hands on the 3-D material (the polymer clay) I got that huge 'Aha!' moment."

Peritore is an accomplished nature photographer, but her passion is in sculpture. 

Why polymer clay? 

"It's a synthetic medium," said Peritore. "It works different than clay in that it doesn't dry outside of the oven. So, you can work with it for longer periods of time, but it needs a fine touch because as you work with it it gets softer." 

Peritore considers herself a late bloomer. 

"But everything I've done in my life has led me here," she said. "For me, part of the creative process is an excavation of self. By creating you go into yourself and you draw on your experiences, thoughts and memories and look at them closely. And out of that you give birth to something."

Peritore also manages the Margaret W. and Joseph L. Fisher Art Gallery at the NOVA Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center.

You can see the artwork of Megan Peritore in building 10 of the Workhouse Arts Center. 

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