Peter Wedel has been a stalwart of the Sacramento art scene for decades. For the rest of January, Little Relics (908 21st Street, Midtown) is turning back the clock, showcasing some of the artist’s earlier works. Wedel was born in Sacramento, but after the death of his mother, at age 5, he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle, both Seventh Day Adventists, who took Peter and his little brother to the jungles of Guatemala to do missionary work. In the early ‘80s, Wedel immersed himself in the punk rock scene. “I got into punk about 1981 when I went to see D.O.A. at Galactica 2000, met the band and loved the energy, DIY attitude and challenging the status quo,” Wedel told Submerge via email. “At that time I also went to the German Expressionist Exhibition in San Francisco and saw the same attitude in their work. Until then I wanted to be an illustrator, [but] from that day on I wanted to be a painter.” It was during that time of self-discovery that Wendel created the works on display at Little Relics. The expressionist influence shows in the bold colors, flattened perspective and emotionally fraught depictions of urban life displayed in paintings such as Love at First Sight. Little Relics will host a closing reception for the exhibit on Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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