Meet Peter
Burt.
RETURN
The Abridged Life and Times of Peter Burt Lauridsen
1945 Born Peter Burt Lauridsen in Pasadena, California, by age 5, Peter had designed his first piano out of cardboard and ice cream sticks.
1954-59 He performed in the family quartet during church programs and celebrations of life. Peter toured with his musically-gifted mother during her American Folk Music campus tour, playing guitar and singing.
1958-60 Peter spent his high school summers participating in the Occidental College Summer Theatre Guild. Productions of Gilbert and Sullivan were the most popular. He learned how to play the stand-up bass and the heartstrings of young women.
1961 Peter falls in love for the first time.
1963 Peter graduates from high school and begins performing with various groups in Eagle Rock and other California cities. Their offerings include a broad range of styles and arrangements: The New Christy Minstrels, Johnny Mathis, Elvis and Buddy Holly, to name but a few. Peter's famous and not-so-famous engagements include shows at California's Troubadour, The Ice House, before it became a Comedy Club, and The 23 Skidoo, just off the UCLA campus.
1965 Peter forms his first duo-marries Cathy. He feels it is time to pursue "a more legitimate career” at IBM and by studying Computer Sciences, Peter manages to become a nerd long before it is fashionable. In tandem, he continues to channel his creative juices by personally creating custom furniture. Peter's fate is directed after the San Francisco Chronicle runs a Sunday Edition feature article about his custom furniture.
1970-76 He creates Peter Burt Company. Peter sets up 4000 sq. ft. woodshop in San Francisco. By 1975, his custom-designed tables & chairs were featured on the cover of The Goodfellow Catalogue of Wonderful Things. Other works are featured in Better Homes and Gardens – Apartment Ideas. While Peter's business flourished, his marriage did not.
1974 Peter starts writing. Not given to shyness, he conducts his first
poetry readings shortly thereafter.
1975 Meets Julia; moves again. Peter performs a personal play of a different nature in the California mountains--this time in a cabin with no electricity on 40 acres with too many animals. The furniture business thrives.
1980 Peter and Julia separate. He finds himself, literally and figuratively, “further up a creek" in a single room cabin on a stream – no running water or indoor facilities. He continues to write, make furniture and take photographs.
1981 Moves to Phoenix. Acclimates to life, love and work in a desert, urban environment.
1982-89 Peter finds his vision and stars in his own production of Married with Children by adopting Maryam and her four beautiful children. Poof! Instant fatherhood-and more to write about. He re-opens Peter Burt Company specializing in architecture and custom furniture. Peter lands a variety of satisfying architectural projects, and is part of the design team for the Cochise Geronimo Clubhouse at Desert Mountain, Scottsdale, AZ.
1990-92 Peter moves his company to Lake Chelan, Washington, where he specializes in very custom computer work stations. Peter directs a musical short entitled "Jupiter and the Underworld" for the Lake Chelan Bach Feste, building sets and adding lighting designs to the effort. It’s a Greek thing, with lightening. With found objects, he stages "The Old Maid and the Thief" both at Holden Village and again in Chelan. He accepts a position as Technical Director of the Chelan Performing Arts Center, and designs sets for the production of The Pajama Game.
1992-95 Peter returns to acting, first in small roles and culminating with the role of Giles in "The Mouse Trap." Peter Burt Company builds stage sets and lighting for the "Diary of Anne Frank" and "Mame."
1995 Peter decides to sell his furniture business and travel for an extended period, capturing new impressions with pen and camera. Temporarily back in Phoenix, Peter re-connects, then marries Adrienne and, once again, becomes a father overnight. Architecture and interior consultation projects continue to feed the pocketbook while writing feeds his soul. Adrienne inspires Peter to organize and edit his journals and photographs.
1997 Designated “Poet of the Month” for the Arizona Archaeology Society and his "Silence of the Stones” is published in the Hopi newspaper TUTUVENI. Peter is asked to read his poetry as part of the grand opening ceremonies of Arizona State Park's Kartchner Caverns.
1998 The business plan for his Soaring Images® brand of greeting cards and images strengthens as edited material comes together.
1999 Peter and Adrienne refine 25 years of his journals and poetry. Peter actively pursues a career in writing and photography and, as time allows, participates in select architectural projects. Peter publishes “A Field of Passion" and continues to compile Soaring Images® resources for submission to publishers globally.
2000 Alaska fills Peter’s lenses, both photographically and metaphorically. He and Adrienne drive down the West Coast, all the way to San Diego.
2001 Peter goes to NYC for the first time. Stories and photos abound. He submits his collective works to the inspirational giftware distribution market. 9/11 puts all potential publishing ideas on hold. Peter writes and takes more photographs.
2002-03 Peter rafts the Colorado River and arrives home invigorated, stronger, and full of life. Adrienne and Peter buy a house in Moon Valley with a studio attached, and start a new domestic-artistic stage of growth. Peter continues to do photography and fills more journals with words.
2004-05 Peter give readings and signs books at Barnes & Noble in Scottsdale. The tide has shifted. The future bright. In December, Peter returns to Pasadena, living one mile from where he was born, three miles from where he graduated, and six miles from where he grew up! The Land of Opportunity is now before him, and with publishing his introspection series, Words From Within, Peter has an arsenal of words to share.
2006 A lengthy trip to China is in the planning. To pay for this trip, Peter has been working as Design Director for residential contractor in Sierra Madre, a few miles form home.
2007 YES! At LAST! Peter left May 5th for China! There must be a book waiting to write! Sometime in July, the signs pointed to moving back to Phoenix. Sometimes taking the path of least resistance is the best path! Peter is back in his studio creating! What a joy!
2008 Guess what! Peter has reopened his Architectural Design Studio. After running a small ad in The Moon Valley Tattler, and has picked up just enough clients to enjoy being busy. He sleeps less! This is a sign of happiness.
