The Art of... feature
Story by Ashley Elvington • Higher Grounds Photography
Matriline
Although she has been a part of many exhibitions, there’s nothing quite as special as a
solo show. “Looking around at your work filling a gallery space, it always looks so different
than it did on your studio wall.” She’s had some rather memorable moments from group
AS A MOM OF TWO, ADRIAN’S SCHEDULE STAYS PRETTY BUSY, but she paints
exhibitions as well. “One was winning ‘Best of Show’ at the York County Juried Exhibition
as much as she can. “Right now, with my youngest daughter being so small, I have to work
a few years ago because Rock Hill is my old stomping ground, and it was nice to win the
my studio time around my husband’s work schedule so that one of us is always home with
exhibition in Winthrop’s backyard. Another is being accepted into an international print
her. (Although I do work on carvings at the dining room table while she naps). In August,
portfolio exchange at last year’s Southern Graphics International Conference. That is one I
both girls are going to be in preschool/morning care, and I will work a few hours every
applied for not expecting to be chosen, so when I was selected, I was very excited.” During
day. My husband Mike is incredibly supportive of my art practice and understands how
shows, Adrian “sneaks” around the gallery. While she’s pretending to look at the work,
important time in the studio is. He works a 4/4 schedule, so when he gets to his four days
she’s actually watching the expressions of guests. “Art is a form of communication - I make
off, at least two of them I will spend working. Otherwise, it’s fitting in what I can at home
it because I have something to say. The conversation is only really complete when some-
while Phoebe is napping and Sophie is in school. When the girls are both in school, it will
one looks at and responds to the work, so I get a thrill out of seeing how people respond.”
be a lot easier because I will be able to consistently work during the weekdays. One can’t
Adrian is highly anticipating this year’s ArtFields competition, as she is dreaming of winning
do this alone. From taking care of the kids or cooking dinner to hanging an exhibition or
a prize or being selected as a finalist for the 701 CCA Prize.
attending an opening, having an art career is something that impacts the whole family,
Currently, Adrian has a studio located at Black Creek Arts in Hartsville, South Carolina. “I
and I am fortunate to have the support and structure of my family to give me a place from
find that I have to have my studio away from my house; otherwise, the art takes over and
which to create.”
infects all our living space. Black Creek Arts is in a beautiful historic building with high ceil-
Her favorite pieces vary as she tends to become quite attached to whichever one she is
ings and lots of natural light. I rent two studio rooms - one is set up for painting and mixed
working on at the moment. “I always have several projects going at the same time - at least
media, the other is my print shop with an etching press, lots of paper storage, and a coun-
three but as many as six or ten. The current piece is my favorite because it is the one with
tertop workspace. When I am there, I am not worrying about what’s going on at home or
which I am actively engaged, the one that I am thinking about and trying to figure out.” It
anywhere else - I am able to focus completely on the project at hand.” Her work can be seen
just so happens that her current favorite one has also proven to be the most challenging.
in other locations in Hartsville as well, such as Frame Moxie and The Mantissa, where seven
“My current project is an installation piece that has a seven-foot painting in the center and
pieces of her work are on display in the lobby. “Art is hard work and takes a lot of discipline
is going to be flanked by eight hundred 3-D woodcut print sculptures of bees. It is challeng-
to be successful. The only talent I have is in sticking with it and doubling down on my pro-
ing because of the sheer amount of work it is going to take to pull it off. There is the chal-
cess as I keep crawling down this rabbit hole. I hope that my discipline and work ethic serve
lenge of creating the large center painting, and th en there is assembling all the little paper
as an example to my daughters. That said, being involved in the art world has enriched my
bees. Each one is printed from a wood carving and then cut, folded, glued, and mounted
life through the viewing of work and exhibitions. In the same way, I hope that interacting
on a pin. Doing this eight hundred times is monotonous and time consuming. The piece is
with other artists while looking at and talking about art will enrich the life of anyone who
for an exhibition at Coastal Carolina University in January 2017. I’ve been working on it a
does it, not just for the people that make it. Art is what I do - it is how I work out the mess
couple months already, and I expect it will take me the rest of the year to finish (along with
in my head and make sense of the world around me. It’s a record of my experience, and I
the other work for the show). I expect I will be somewhat relieved when it is done. I have
hope people can relate to the commonalities they see in it with their own experiences.”
several new pieces in the works for this one, and the big show stopper is going to be this
bee print/painting installation. I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the gallery. No matter
how much planning and prep you do, seeing the work in the space is always a completely
different experience than you expect.”
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APRIL 2016
Adrian Rhodes resides in Hartsville, South Carolina, with her husband Michael and daughters Sophie and Phoebe. To follow her work in progress, studio events and exhibition announcements, visit
her on Facebook at Adrian Rhodes Art. To view more of her work, visit www.adrianrhodes.com and
www.etsy.com/AdrianRhodesArt.
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