On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Elizabeth Klise, executive director of the Peoria Historical Society, about a new exhibition entitled "Joseph Petarde: Maestro of Stone," on view Oct. 1-28 at Peoria Public Library’s Main Library.
Petarde arrived in the United States from Italy in the late 19th century, bringing with him generations of stone-carving tradition. After work brought him to Peoria, he made the city his home and left a remarkable artistic legacy that can still be found throughout the community. His carvings appear on buildings and landmarks including the GAR Hall, the former McKinley School, Proctor Center, and St. Peter’s Church, as well as his own Fairholme Avenue home.
“His craftsmanship was just second to none in its intricacies,” Klise said.
Petarde’s work was also distinctive for its personality. His sculptures frequently incorporated playful expressions and unexpected details, bringing a touch of whimsy to his architectural stonework.
The new exhibition offers an opportunity to see his craftsmanship from a different perspective through nearly 40 large-scale photographs by Petarde’s great-great-grandson, professional photographer Seth Lowe. Lowe traveled throughout Central Illinois documenting his ancestor’s surviving work, often focusing closely on details that can be easily missed from the sidewalk.
“What you’ll see in the photographs, I think, is that it’s an art show as well as a history show,” Klise said.
The exhibition also coincides with Italian Heritage and Culture Month, placing Petarde’s story within the larger legacy of Italian immigrant artists and craftspeople whose work helped shape American communities and their cultural landscape.
Joseph Petarde: Maestro of Stone is on view Oct. 1-28 at Peoria Public Library’s Main Library. An opening celebration will be held Oct. 3 from 1-3 p.m., a date the City of Peoria is also proclaiming Joseph Petarde Day.
