One year ago, Bonnie and Jim Rash left the 27-step climb up to their apartment above their Silver Fox Gallery in Hendersonville and moved to a small house nearby. It is light and spacious with a particularly serene color scheme, mostly earth tones with touches of purple. It imparts a unique and pleasant feeling, as if you’re both grounded to Mother Earth and soaring in the clouds.
Bonnie’s most treasured mementoes are the wonderful art pieces that she and her husband have collected in their 30-year marriage. A walk through her home is like a private gallery tour.
Who helped you set your goals in life?
My father. I was very close to him. He was a humble, spiritual man. He understood the beauty of nature and instilled that in me. I grew up on a dairy farm. I love to have my feet on the ground. Also, he had a very intense work ethic. I learned to work hard from him.
When did you first know that visual art was important to you?
I was a journalism major in college and my favorite class was photojournalism, because of the visual nature of photography. From there I moved to publication design and went into the corporate arena. I would work with technology during the day and explore artwork at night and on the weekends.
Why do you put all your art interest into what’s in a home?
My whole purpose is to help people make their homes more wonderful places to be.
It might sound corny, but our living environment gives us a place to be the best of ourselves. Our homes tie in with our health — and more than that with the universe, Spirit, whatever you want to call it. Beauty and great design and great art are like forces that keep you in touch with your soul — and that’s the most important part of a home.
What role does your spirituality play in your work?
Spirituality is at the core, the center of my best work — when I am centered in my soul everything else comes, it becomes intuitive and comes together. I am so comfortable with believing there is some kind of higher power.
Every morning you can enjoy both the morning light and view your art in the rooms beyond…
And behind me, pulling me in every time I see it is this mysterious piece by Barbara Sebastian in San Francisco. It represents life — see the doorway at the bottom? Do I go through it or not? I’m not sure. Usually I do go through — rarely do I find what I expect, but it’s wonderful.
Over the fireplace is a stunning clay piece…
It’s the first piece Jim and I bought — a hand-built abstract clay piece, also by Barbara Sebastian. It’s the busiest, most complex piece we have, very heavy, so I had to find the right place for it. It empowers the whole room.
And the magnificent abstract expressionist painting over the sofa?
I just love the colors, don’t you? It’s by Patricia Cole-Ferullo from Tryon. It reminds me of Rothko, whose work I also love. Good art facilitates meditation. See its layers of darkness? Like you’re coming out of darkness into the light.
This is an excellent example of your principle of grouping.
The two larger round hand-hammered copper trays from Turkey support the painting, so the entire space is balanced, but the trays don’t interfere with the painting.
Besides art, what is essential in a home’s interior?
As important as art are the books in a house because books have so much wisdom and understanding to impart.
You’re so busy — how do you have time for books?
I read every night. And my husband and I often read a book together. Right now we’re reading To the End of the Land by David Grossman. Fascinating story about the mother of an Israeli soldier.
You said earlier you had a secret on how to make your art look fantastic?
Oh, you need a gifted framer. That makes all the difference. I adore Robert Reitz in Candler. His framing enhances every piece of art he does for me.
What is this oddly shaped object under the lamp?
It’s a “garment” image, made of sand cast glass. See? I put it there to catch both the light that comes from the side window during the day, and at night from the light in the lamp.
This is one of your few animal images?
Isn’t he great? A playful dog, nose to nose with a little bird. So fun. It’s a freeform ceramic by Cathy Broski, from Kansas City, Missouri. I have several pieces of hers.
There seems to be a big shift in feel from living room to the bedroom?
In the bedroom, I like couple images. This Navajo inspired hand-blown glass sculpture is named Shidoni, by Bernard Katz of Philadelphia. Shidoni is a term of endearment meaning friend, so this piece could be mother and child, or lovers or good friends.
Here’s another couple, but different.
This is another piece by Cathy Broski. She builds these pieces with slabs of clay then textures the surface until she has the effect she wants. It got bumped on the shelf in the gallery — and her head got knocked off. So I took her home. She’s repaired — and so am I.
You admire art so much…are you an artist yourself?
What I know about art — there is the gift part and the hard work part. We can’t be great at everything so we must choose — I chose — choose — to create home interiors. I love the big canvas of a home and how to figure out balance and color on that scale.
What’s your next design project?
I’m designing the interior of the model home for a new gated mountain community just minutes from Hendersonville. The Boulders at Stoney Mountain will open in a few months. A wonderful community and an ideal opportunity to present my work.
Very exciting. Do come and see it!
And your next adventure?
Paris! My husband is taking me there for our 30th anniversary. I can’t wait!
Silver Fox Gallery & Interiors is located at 508 N. Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. Call 828-698-0601 or visit silverfoxonline.com for more information.