Rutherford Weekly

Paul Rodriguez came to Rutherfordton 33 years ago from Toledo, Ohio and has never looked back. He fell in love with Rutherfordton quickly and although his three decades of living in the County Seat hasn't all been a bed of roses, it's been a good journey and he wouldn't trade it for life anywhere else. It's been a good life. Sitting at Kiwanis Park in Rutherfordton recently Paul talked about his love for Rutherfordton coming to the area as an 18 year old teenager. "I did not know what I wanted to do," he said. He came to the county because his brother Adam Rodriguez was living there. But when his brother passed away in 2015, Paul knew Rutherfordton was his home. It wasn't long after his arrival that he began his career as an artist, meeting a lifelong friend Paul Withrow who got him into commercial art. Paul gives credit to Withrow for helping him get into art with commercial work. "Paul was doing so many things, all in black and white so he asked me to do some work for him," Paul said. They became fast friends and worked together for years. Today Paul works in several mediums including airbrushing, oil painting, wood carving and "anything the customer wants," he said. An artist can't always do exactly what he wants to do. "We do what is wanted," he said. His latest work is in the Adventure Playground at Kiwanis Park. One of the defi ning features of the new park, said town offi cials, was to take advantage of the amazing diversity and inventory of mature trees. The Adventure Playground was nestled into a grove of mature poplar trees that allowed for heavy shade in the heat of the day and added to the feel of the treehouse- style play area. As the spring of 2022 arrived, the mature poplars did not survive and had to be removed to ensure the safety of park visitors. In true Rutherfordton fashion, this problem became an opportunity to think creatively and add to the atmosphere of the park, said Town Manager Doug Barrick. That's when Rodriguez was asked to carve designs to give new life to the poplar trees and subsequently his sketches were approved and The Town of Rutherfordton commissioned Paul to carve the trees. Paul's work came to life in June and is now a key feature in the Adventure Playground. The three new carvings include a pair of young bear cubs, a skull of foxes, and a raccoon being watched over by a red-tailed hawk. "I wanted to carve animals that are native to the area," Paul said. "The Town allowed me to do that," he said and the rest is history. Paul said although the wood is not in the best shape because of some splits, "I will maintain this." Paul will continue to keep these art installations up over the next few years as they mature into the park's landscape. He spent about one week on each of the carvings. "Most carvers could do all three in one day," he said. At his art studio on Central Street in Rutherfordton, there is an array of airbrush work and other mediums. He spends fi ve days a week in the studio, Monday through Friday, and works some on Sunday. He is in the middle of clearing out and moving things around in the studio and invites those interested to come by to see his work. Saturday is his day to relax and stay out of the studio. He and wife Crystal, who has a cleaning business, claim Saturday as their day of relaxation. Paul and several friends are doing a Bible study on Saturdays at different homes of the friends. Continued on page 3. ISSUE NO. 33 • August 18, 2022 ISSUE NO. 33 • August 18, 2022 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Our 30 th Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers BRING YOUR VEHICLE BY FOR US TO LOOK AT! NO APPRAISAL FEE CHARGED! TOP DOLLAR PAID! PAID! YOUR VEHICLE VEHICLE We Want to Buy We Want to Buy www.mooresautos.com 345 South Broadway, Forest City 828-245-8067 M O O RE ' S AUTO S ALES ©communityfi rstmedia NOW OFFERING NOW OFFERING 187 NORTH POWELL STREET, FOREST CITY ADAS Calibration In House On Vehicles ADAS Calibration In House On Vehicles Equipped With Front-View Cameras Equipped With Front-View Cameras A man's love A man's love of art, music of art, music and his town and his town Article by Jean Gordon. Jean Gordon photos and contributed. SCHOOL'S IN! WATCH THAT CHILD! SCHOOL'S IN! WATCH THAT CHILD! Among his airbrush pieces of artwork is this gorgeous tiger. Paul Rodriguez talks about his art work and his love of Rutherfordton. At the top of this poplar tree is a red-tail hawk and in the center is a raccoon. Paul poses with his carving of the foxes. A sketch of the black bear cubs Paul presented to Town Council for consideration. SEE PAGE 7!

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