Spirit Rhoades
Bio
I was born in Las Vegas, NV but grew up mostly in and around Charlotte, NC. I had the fortune of being raised both in an inner city and in rural outskirts, developing an appreciation for both ways of living. I have enjoyed creating since I could hold a crayon, and my mother actually used a drawing I did as a toddler to convince a school board to allow me into kindergarten early. Sadly, my career as an illustrator basically ended there (haha) but I continued on to find painting, pottery, and photography to be some of my favorite forms of creative expression!
Describe your art/craft (medium, process, etc).
My focus on the art tour this year is my barn quilt making. Barn quilts started as a way to identify barns that were left unpainted but gained higher purposes during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. They helped soldiers identify supplies and resources and later supported freedom-seekers, similar to quilts hung on clotheslines or in windows. My quilts are painted using the traditional method of a wood canvas (I use a primed exterior-rated plywood) and acrylic paint that is finished with an exterior clear coat. Some modern quilt-painters prefer to use a plastic material with an aluminum veneer but I find the wood finish feels more authentic.
What drives you to make your art/craft?
Barn quilts give their owners a way to express themselves and share with their community something they find represents them. I enjoy making barn quilts of all sizes because I know not everyone has access to a barn— my wares can be hung on chicken coops, fences, front porches, etc. It’s a special way to bring folk art and American history and symbolism home. My American PRIDE quilt and Starship Hummingbird are two of my favorites that I feel reflect my passion for acceptance of others and my “challenge everything” mindset (why couldn’t we have a hummingbird flying in space, instead of the sky, if we wanted?)
Who or what are your greatest influences?
As a farm owner I am influenced by anything that allows me to spend time working on and reflecting about my farm. The barn quilts are painted in my workshop, they get me outside and I can work on projects around the farm while I wait for drying between layers. Many times, I work with my wild mustangs which are right next to the workshop.
Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop” is a film that, to me, really captures the purity of passion that Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta) had for street art and that wild and intense feeling is what I try to remind myself to stay close to as I explore life, and it has lead me to some interesting places.
I also really enjoy rereading “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert any time I am needing to reignite my creative flame.
How does living in Tennessee influence and inspire your art?
Ah…the hills of Tennessee! Once I had a taste of Tennessee, I knew I could never leave. The landscapes, history, and Appalachian culture will forever captivate my heart. To add my artwork on buildings that can overlook Tennessee for many years to come is a great privilege.
Beyond your art/craft, what are your other interests?
Other than being a mother to my sweetest son, Zenith, I enjoy working with horses. My current passion is training wild mustangs! I keep my wilds near the workshop, so you may be able to see one (or a few) when you stop by on the tour.
