By Reginald Stuart
NASHVILLE, TN — Nathaniel Harris was fond of engineering and creativity since his childhood. By the time he finished Pearl High School and headed to engineering school at Tennessee A & I State University, his thinking was clear.
He would start an adventure in business on Jefferson Street, creating a treasure from so-called scraps left behind in the form of dilapidated and abandoned buildings. That decision propelled him to establishing Woodcuts Galley and Framing, a Nashville treasure trove of greeting cards and outstanding art in the aisles of his family run store.
With the strong backing and loyal support of his wife, Brenda, who’s interest and work in cross-stitching, lead Harris to customize framing work. Harris soon expanded to plaques and awards for customers. His work continued to grow based on his relationships with area schools, churches and colleges, including Fisk University, from which he has a long-term lease.
Nate, as customers and friends called him, offered Nashville artists like James Threalkill opportunities to display and sell their work in the Nashville area. He offered myriad greeting cards that were often hard to find. He was a founding member of JUMP (Jefferson United Merchants Partnership) and, in 1983, was presented his own City of Nashville historical marker, recognizing his service to the community.
“There is one thing about art in the community,” said Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, a Nashville and nationally known arts advocate. “Harris brought art to the community,” she said, echoing others who have lauded Harris over the years for taking art to the public. Harris was quiet, humble and thoughtful, said Pierce, who has been active in the arts for decades.
Pierce say, she was proud to see his presence in the community and voiced thoughts of others about “what will happen to his gallery?”
Harris, a home-grown curator of art and history, died of a stroke this past weekend in Las Vegas while attending an art show, his family reported.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Smith Brothers Funeral Directors on Monroe Street.