George Nakashima was born in Spokane, Washington in 1905. After receiving a Masters of Architecture from the Massachusetts Instituteof Technology, in 1931 Nakashima went to work for Antonin Raymond, moving to Japan in 1934. During this time Nakashima experienced aunique synthesis of a deeply-rooted tradition of Japanese design with western modernism. His work for Raymond sent him to Pondicherry,India, where he developed a new creative expression, furniture design. Tasked with the development of furniture for Golconde, a dormitoryfor Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nakashima channeled his heritage, experience and natural materials to take the first steps toward a completelynovel approach. In 1945, George Nakashima opened his own woodworking studio. The land he acquired soon became populated withsignificant architectural gems designed by George Nakashima, including the family home, workshop, storerooms and garden enclosures.This compound became the backdrop to a life and career that has no parallel in the history of design in the world. Nakashima embracedthe characteristics of the wood in its natural, expressive state, harnessing the “soul of the tree” by highlighting cracks with a butterfly jointor embracing the live edges and burls in each tree. This sensibility illustrates a reverence for all life, and a humility toward the endlesscreativity one can find in nature.