Bruce Rowan: Self-taught carpenter makes art out of a craftform

Bruce Rowan, a Greensboro native and retired banker, has a passion for shaping wood into bowls, vases, and platters.

Rowan uses a variety of different woods to craft these items: cherry, oak, pecan, and cedar, all found on his property in Greensboro.

“If a tree falls on my 15 acres,” says Rowan, “I cut it up, save it, dry it out, and use it for whatever the wood tells me it wants to be. It sounds funny, but it's true.”

A carved wooden vase made by Bruce Rowan.

An example of Bruce Rowan’s craftsmanship.

Rowan used to build custom furniture, such as tables and chairs, something which he can no longer manage due to a back injury.

“What got me interested in this was a fellow that lived out here in Greensboro, and I went to a show at [the] Gadsden Arts Center & Museum, and he had some pieces displayed, and I talked to him about it, and he got me started,” said Rowan. “That was the only training I ever had. I’ve been doing it for 20 years, and I’m pretty much self-taught.”

Rowan explains that finished pieces are sold at local events, which he enjoys doing, along with meeting people, especially other crafters.

“I don’t make any money doing this,” Rowan says. “But I make it pay for itself, which is all I want to do. I want to share what I make with people, and I can’t charge an arm and a leg and do that.”

While he does sell his finished pieces, Rowan does not engage in online or mail order services.

“I don’t want it to turn into a job,” says Rowan. “I do it about two, maybe three hours a day, and that’s enough. I get enough stuff to go to three, maybe four festivals during the year.”

One does not need to speak with Rowan very long to realize that he is more an artist than an entrepreneur.

“It’s something deep inside of me. There’s days, because of my back, that I didn’t want to get out of bed, because I hurt so bad. But I come out here and I get busy, and I quit thinking about it. It’s my salvation, sometimes, other than the Good Lord.”

Stephen Klein - Gadsden County News Service

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Bruce Rowan: Self-taught carpenter makes art out of a craftform

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Envision Credit Union launches Coats for Kids Campaign – Community initiative aims to collect new coats for kids in need this winter

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