About the Artist

Nathan Bower started taking things apart to figure out how they work at a very young age. When he was eleven, his grandmother gave him a broken clock to tinker with. With some degree of difficulty, Nathan was able to fix and give this clock to his parents as a Christmas gift. This began Nathan's fascination with clocks and all things mechanical in nature.

After graduating high school, Nathan was given an opportunity to apprentice at the well-established and historic Martinek's Jewelers in downtown Traverse City. In 2002, Nathan opened his own repair business "Old Reliable Clock Shop" and continued his education in the field of horology.

Years spent studying and restoring very old timepieces left Nathan impressed by their beauty, robustness and ability to hold up so well over time, especially compared to modern clocks. This inspired Nathan to begin designing and creating his own mechanical brass and steel sculptural timepieces known as "skeleton clocks," while keeping in the tradition of clockmakers and watchmakers centuries ago.

A number of Nathan's timepieces were entered into national clockmaking competitions around the United States, winning numerous awards over the years, including NAWCC "People's Choice Award" 2009. This has led Nathan on a three-decades long journey, learning and developing his skills in machining and metal casting, all while exploring the form and function of sculptural, mechanical art.