Rachel Meginnes Explores History and Transformation Through Deconstructed Quilts and Woven Textiles
PHOTO: Rachel Meginnes transforms forgotten textiles into profound art, blending history and creativity with boundless skill, sensitivity, and insight.
Breathing New Life Into Forgotten Textiles
Rachel Meginnes reimagines discarded textiles into thought-provoking art, reflecting history, emotion, and transformation while balancing her roles as artist and coach in the inspiring Blue Ridge Mountains.
Rachel Meginnes is a visionary artist whose work invites us on a profound journey into memory, identity, and the intimate, often-overlooked narratives embedded in discarded textiles. From her early exposure to the handmade rugs crafted by her mother and grandmother to her own transformative practice of deconstructing and reimagining quilts, Rachel’s art is an eloquent meditation on history, heritage, and the beauty found in imperfection. Her ability to unearth the forgotten stories woven into fabric—and to reshape those stories into something both timeless and strikingly new—demonstrates an extraordinary talent and sensitivity that leave a lasting impression.
More than just an artist, Rachel is also a compassionate coach and mentor, deeply committed to supporting fellow creatives on their paths. Her dual roles reflect a thoughtful, interconnected approach to making and connecting, grounded in her rich academic background and a life immersed in craft. Through her artwork, Rachel bridges the tactile and the conceptual, respectfully engaging with the materials of the past while pushing the boundaries of contemporary textile art. Her pieces find strength in their fragility, and their boldness lies in their quiet, deliberate honesty.
We are delighted to feature Rachel Meginnes in this issue of WOWwART Magazine. Her story—from discovering her passion for weaving in high school to becoming an artist who continues to breathe new life into discarded materials—reminds us of the power of patience, preservation, and resilience. Rooted in the rich artistic community of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, her practice is as much about honoring collective history as it is about personal introspection. Whether through her evocative textile creations or her inspiring coaching, Rachel’s work challenges us to see beyond the surface—to embrace complexity and celebrate the beauty of transformation.
In this interview, Rachel shares her insights into her creative process, the influence of her surroundings, her personal journey through burnout, and her compelling methods of marrying logic with creativity. We hope her story and artistry spark new ideas and inspire deeper reflection on the intersections of art, heritage, and human connection.
What inspired you to focus on working with discarded and disintegrating quilts in your artwork?
There’s a deep history of working with reclaimed textiles in my family, my mother and grandmother both created hooked rugs from recycled wool cloth. I began collecting textiles myself in my 20s, more out of admiration than anything, and began working with them when I was a resident at Penland School of Craft in 2012. The first quilt I deconstructed was like an act of excavation and discovery – one where I could touch and feel embedded history and witness how the past evolves into the present one stitch at a time.
“The first quilt I deconstructed was like an act of excavation and discovery.”–Rachel Meginnes
How has living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina influenced your artistic process and creations?
I originally came to the Blue Ridge Mountains to be part of the community of artists at Penland School of Craft. Living and working amongst a creatively minded and equally driven group of people has helped me maintain a belief in my work and reminded me, through its rich and extensive craft history, the value and importance of making.
Recently, we got hit by Hurricane Helene. To say that this event shifted the ground beneath me is an understatement. Experiencing this geological shift in real time, witnessing trees and rock turned upside down, rerouted rivers and grooves driven into what was once solid earth, reinforces and mirrors my fascination with old textiles where earth and fabric become artifacts of a world once lived, destroyed and re-established.
Can you share more about your journey from discovering handweaving in high school to becoming a professional artist?
Learning how to weave in high school prompted years of textile study in the United States, Japan, and Nepal. I followed many potential paths from production weaver to rug producer, finally landing on the profession of studio artist. I find I am most at home in the studio where I can quietly pose questions and excitedly seek answers.
How do you balance your roles as both an artist and a coach?
I have always found it awkward to move between the studio and other obligations. Like a stop and start motion that requires an absurd amount of effort. But with coaching, it’s different. I can fluidly move between coaching and creating in the studio. I find that one reinforces the other. My sense is that each of these roles stems from the same place – a deep desire to connect and understand the world and the humans around me.
What challenges have you faced in your artistic career, and how have you overcome them?
I hit burnout in 2018 and considered completely quitting art. I could no longer discern yes from no or should from want and found myself unable to enact old coping tactics to get work done. It took diving deep to understand who I was at my core – as a human and an artist and seeing the link between the two. I think we are often taught to separate the two and to aim to be someone other than we are. I learned to see myself anew, to be surprised and delighted by who I was, and to honor what is in me.
Could you describe your creative process when starting a new piece?
My work stems from the cloth, quilts, images, and ideas I collect. A new piece begins when an idea or image emotionally takes hold of my attention, and I find myself wanting to process or honor it in some way. I start by sampling digital imagery that I’ve gathered or taken of my subject and then translate these pixels and shapes into woven structure. I choose patterned quilts and colored cloth that pair well with my subject and merge these images and materials together at the loom. I weave tests and samples alongside fully realized pieces and then cut them all off the loom and set them aside. When I have fresh eyes and have released any expectations, I come back for a second look, drawing new associations and collaging the pieces back together again to realize the final work.
How do you incorporate the themes of logic and creativity into your textile art?
The themes of logic and creativity naturally come together for me within the process of weaving. Warping a loom requires logic, planning and math while working on a digital loom allows me the flexibility to push the boundaries of what a woven structure can be. I see my process as iterative, one that builds on the very foundation of cloth, to one made of cloth, to the abstraction found in between.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are interested in working with textiles?
Learn the rules, then break them.
In Protest
“In Protest” by Rachel Meginnes is a powerful and evocative textile that unites art, activism, and storytelling. By deconstructing old quilts and integrating protest imagery, Meginnes masterfully weaves together themes of resilience, social upheaval, and the struggle for expression amidst chaos. The piece’s rich textures and layered materials reflect both personal and collective histories, compelling viewers to confront silenced voices and untold stories. Rachel’s ability to transform discarded materials into profound artwork showcases her exceptional creativity, technical skill, and deep sensitivity to the human condition. A truly remarkable and impactful piece.
EDITOR’S HIGHLIGHTS
Empowering Art & Artists Globally
“Being featured in WOWwART means gaining visibility not just in print edition, but across the entire media spectrum in the US, UK, Europe and beyond”
EDITOR’S HIGHLIGHTS
Media, Art and Artist
Media is a powerful tool to build relationships, boost visibility, influence decisions, and create lasting impressions for success and growth.
