Interview with 4th Street Fine Art Artist Celena Peet

Please introduce yourself. Who are you? Where did you grow up? Where do you live?

I'm Celena Peet, an artist, graphic designer, and lover of plants and pets. I grew up in a small town called Hubbard, Iowa, and have been living in Oakland, California for the past 12 years.

Tell us more about what you create. What style(s) do you work in, mediums, etc.

I call my work mixed-media fiber art - my pieces incorporate various fiber techniques, including embroidery, weaving, knitting, etc. as well as found vintage tools and toys, and objects from nature.

How long have you been creating?

I have always been interested in telling stories by making art, and have been intentionally creating art pieces for the last 25 years. I have been focused on sharing my work with others for the last 15 years or so.

When you're not making your art, what do you do?

When I'm not making art, I take on freelance graphic design projects, tend a wild cottage garden in my front yard and far too many houseplants, walk my despotic chihuahua, and volunteer with groups including the Friends of the Oakland Tool Lending Library and Oakland Animal Services.

Is creativity a luxury or necessity for you? Tell us more about that.

Creativity is a necessity for me - it is part of everything I do. Making creative connections to solve visual and non-visual problems to better communicate is inherent to how I approach my life and the world around me.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration everywhere from junk stores to natural landscapes to urban sidewalks to historical ruins to the hardware store. I am always wondering who was there before me, what lives objects lived before I encountered them, how materials could be used in an unexpected way, and how I can add to the story.​​