Roze, a Cragsmoor resident who grew up in Manhattan, came to art as a young man, attending high school at Music and Art and earning a studio major at City College of New York. Taken away from by finding jobs in and around the Manhattan area, working for an image consulting company, a not-for-profit organization, and in carpentry and renovations, Roze recently rediscovered his interest in fine arts, now attracted to woodturning. This form of woodworking, involving a lathe, allows Roze to use wood found in and around the Hudson Valley area, transforming it into artistic pieces that combine his ideas with the rough edges found in nature. Despite his formal art education, Roze taught himself the basics of this particular method of sculpture through hands-on experience.

Having relocated with his wife to Cragsmoor ten years ago, Roze feels that the region influences his work through the raw materials it provides. “The woodturning that I make uses only the trees that are in New York State. I find pieces wherever I can, whether it's at the transfer station or when the highway department cuts something down, or when a neighbor may cut something down… the environment that we all live in makes that all available. I feel it's a nice way to recycle wood that might either get burned or bowled under.” Roze goes on to describe how nature plays an important part in his artwork: “Stylistically, I think the area doesn't really influence the pieces rather than just how the wood is, like which way the grain is going or any irregularities in the material, which I try to highlight as best I can.” Because of this philosophy, his work is definitely a product of the area around him, a synthesis of nature and expression.

Roze's interest in art has been largely personal rather than commercial, though earning income from his work isn't out of the question. According to the artist, “the money making part of it just started pretty recently for me, so I really consider myself still a student.” When asked if he would take commissions for his artwork, he replies with a laugh, “I would be interested in commissions if people were interested in having some things made. I am working on a larger piece of cherry wood for one of the residents in Cragsmoor, so this year is kind of a time when I'm beginning to make money from woodturning.”

Bernhard Roze's artwork can be seen on display during the month of July, and can be contacted at his home in Cragsmoor at 845-647-1075.

COMMENTS about this article (1)