Closed: The Master Bark Weaver’s Cottage by Erkki Pekkarinen

The bark works of Erkki Pekkarinen, who lives in Vesivehmaa in Asikkala, combine an ancient technique with outstanding creativity and artistic expression. Pekkarinen is a masterful weaver of bark, who has focused on testing the limits and possibilities of traditional bark technique.

Pekkarinen’s masterpieces form an extensive collection, almost 500 birch bark works, including record-breaking birch bark shoes and a container with a capacity of more than one and a half cubic metres. For years, the collection was on display in the Birch Bark Master’s Cottage in Pekkarinen’s courtyard. In the summer of 2026, Pekkarinen donated his collection to the Asikkala Heritage Association, which exhibits works in the summer at the Asikkala Local Heritage Museum.

Read the artist’s bio on our website.

An interview with the artist on our YouTube channel.

Images: Juho Haavisto / ITE art surveys, ITE in Häme (2019-2022), MSL