Biography

Immerse yourself in the world of Freeman Vines through the Hanging Tree Guitars virtual exhibition

An artist, a luthier and a spiritual philosopher, Freeman Vines’ life is a roadmap of the truths and contradictions of the American South. He remembers the hidden histories of the eastern North Carolina land on which his family has lived since enslavement. For over 50 years Vines has transformed materials culled from a forgotten landscape in his relentless pursuit of building a guitar capable of producing a singular tone that has haunted his dreams. From tobacco barns, mule troughs, and radio parts he has created hand-carved guitars, each instrument seasoned down to the grain by the echoes of its past life. Mr. Vines’ first public display of his work was at the Turner Contemporary in the United Kingdom on February 6th, 2020. His debut solo exhibition is currently on view in his home community at the Greenville Museum of Art.

How We Helped:

Since partnering with Freeman in 2015, Music Maker has provided sustenance support and emergency grants in addition to professional services cataloging his archive of guitar and providing materials for him to use to create new works. Through the sustenance support Freeman has been able to get his diabetes under control, using the monthly monthly grant to purchase much needed medicine.