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Andy Bates—Woodworker
For someone who doesn’t consider himself an artist,
woodworker Andy Bates creates beautiful, one-of-a-kind
pieces that would make any “real” artist jealous. Andy is a
faculty member in the English department at ECU and does
woodworking in his spare time. Andy is originally from
Northern Virginia and said his only training came from his
7th grade wood shop class. He moved to Greenville and
started at ECU in the Fall of 1996 and has been here ever
since.
When Andy bought a house he said he, “couldn’t afford real
furniture and it was all pretty boring. So I made my first
table out of plywood and pre-made legs from Lowe’s.” Using
only a drill, Andy created his first piece of furniture but
as he continued to make repairs to the house, his ability
grew. He became serious about his work in 2003 and using the
house’s small garage as his workshop, sold his first bench
in 2004. Andy said his “workshop” was so tiny and cramped
that if he was working with a large piece of wood, he would
have to walk it outside to turn it over and then bring it
back in. “The lawnmower and leaf blower were right behind my
saw,” he said about the small space. He’s moved since then
and has a ‘real’ workshop now with plenty of space for his
furniture and tools, apart from the family yard equipment.
There are a few elements that set Andy Bates apart from
other artists or wood workers. One is that he wasn’t
professionally trained, a second is that he said he can’t
draw, and a third is that he never makes plans for what he’s
going to create. He handles each individual piece of wood
and lets the grain of the wood help him decided what to
make. Andy said he focuses on the wood, “instead of making
something gaudy.” The result is amazingly beautiful and
natural tables, chairs, benches and even cutting boards.
Andy said, “People have forgotten what real wood looks like.
I don’t use any colored stains or dyes—it’s the color of the
real wood.” He also uses wood you wouldn’t expect to find,
such as Ambrosia Maple or Birch with Purple Heart accents.
Instead of drawing out plans, Andy says he measures himself
for chairs and benches. He tests the weight of his furniture
by sitting on it because as a child he was always told,
“Don’t sit on the furniture.” Now, he sits on every piece he
makes and, “if it holds my weight then it’s good,” he said.
He’s also challenging himself by creating pieces without
using nails or screws, but using integrated jointery
instead. This process may be more meticulous and time
consuming, but the end result is really unique and
beautiful.
When Andy was ready to start selling his wooden creations in
2004, he went to Emerge Gallery and they have supported him
ever since. Andy even helped renovate Emerge by framing and
hanging doors, creating new thresholds, making baseboards,
knocking out walls, altering the framing and even made some
old window frames into doors. You can see his professional
handiwork all over the studios, as well as his furniture for
sale in the front gallery.
Andy said his goal in his work is to remind people what real
wood looks like and that someday he would like to open is
own woodworking business. “My inspiration is my wife, my
muse. I like to make nice things for her. It’s also nice to
make something original and different and give it to
friends,” he said. Andy commented that growing up, his
mother was a full time mom and would take him to volunteer
at a women’s homeless shelter. She also would knit and Andy
learned that, “doing something productive with your free
time is a great thing.” So he splits his time between
teaching at ECU and wood working, but he greatly enjoys
both. His talent is both practical and expressive. “I
learned at any early age what you don’t have in your hip
pockets; you better have in your elbow. My elbow is going to
be arthritic in five years.”
To see some of Andy Bates’ wonderful furniture pieces or to
contact him, visit Emerge Gallery at 404 Evans St. or call
(252) 551-6947
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