Artist Statement
Having worked in many different styles for more than 25 years, I am greatly influenced by the fine furniture of the past and attempt to integrate many of its characteristics – time-tested joinery, surface embellishments, fine finishes, and even traditional design elements – into the natural contours of the wood that I collect. In contrast to the flawless surfaces I sought in my earlier work, I now put emphasis on the natural aspects of wood. Knots, burls, insect holes, mineral streaks, spalting, and checking are traits that give each piece a highly individual character. Often, I incorporate sculptural or animal forms, but function, esthetics, and craftsmanship are always my guidelines.
Artist Bio
A North Carolina native, Nathan Rose grew up in Charlotte and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He spent the next 20 years in theatrical and exhibitory shops in New York, California, and Alaska building sets, props, and furniture in a multitude of styles, as well as contemporary exhibits and displays. Missing the South and following a passion to build furniture of his own design, Nathan returned to Charlotte and in 1993 opened Rose Woodworks, specializing in custom furniture and cabinetry.
While residing in the abundantly forested mountains of northwest North Carolina in the mid 1990’s, Nathan began collecting and working with wood in its natural form. This is now the primary focus of his furniture.
Nathan is a proud member of the following organizations:
The Furniture Society, www.furnituresociety.org
American Craft Council, www.craftcouncil.org
Carolina Designer Craftsmen, www.carolinadesignercraftsmen.com
Rose Woodworks
My studio and showroom are located in a former textile mill in Belmont, NC. With more room than I need, I have shared it over the years with other artists.
The ample space and associated storage buildings have allowed me to pursue my passion for collecting trees. Most are hardwoods from the Charlotte area and west to the Appalachians. The majority are felled by storms and developers and thus saved from the landfill or chipper. A good percentage of my commissions involve the reuse of a cherished tree from an individual’s own property.
I have the logs sawn into slabs and along with stumps and branches will air dry in storage sheds for a period of six months to several years. The wood chosen for interior pieces is then further dried in my kiln to ensure stability and structural integrity.
I like the juxtaposition of smooth and textured surfaces and usually incorporate some form of carving into my work. My finishes vary according to the intended use of the piece but are always hand-rubbed to a warm, satiny luster.
Galleries
Nathan’s work appears in the following fine craft galleries:
Grovewood Gallery in Asheville, NC
www.grovewood.com
Wickwire Gallery in Hendersonville, NC
www.wickwireartgallery.com
Southern Spirit Gallery in Salisbury, NC
www.southernspiritgallery.com
Beet Gallery in Charlotte, NC
www.beetonline.com
NATHAN ROSE
ROSE WOODWORKS
6325 W. WILKINSON BLVD., SUITE D
BELMONT, NC 28012
(704) 829-5059
nathanrose@carolina.rr.com
