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 W.
C. Rice
W.
C. Rice ,visionary folk figure, was born on February 20, 1930
in Bibb County, Alabama. Rev. Rice was, by his own appraisal,
not an artist but a born again man on a mission to save souls
and warn others of the dangers of sinful living. His “Miracle
Cross Garden” just outside Prattville, Alabama is legendary,
filled with rough wood crosses and hand lettered signs with
religious sayings, red paint symbolizing the blood of Jesus,
and biblical admonitions such as “Hell is hot, hot,
hot” which he placed for passing motorists to see and
repent. He began erecting his first crosses in 1976 after
receiving instructions from God to erect three wooden crosses
as a permanent tribute to his recently deceased mother. His
crosses and signs were included in the exhibition “Self
Made World”, Visionary Folk Art Environments in 1998
given by the Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University,
Pennsylvania and he is listed in numerous publications such
as “Revelations, Alabama’s Visionary Folk Artists”,
Kemp and Boyer and “Outsider Artists in Alabama”,
Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Reverend
Rice passed away on January 18, 2004 at 4:50 P.M. leaving
a rich legacy for future generations to ponder.
All
of the crosses and signs shown here came directly from Reverend
Rice before his death in exchange for donations to his work.
According
to Mrs. Rice, the small white crosses with just Reverend Rice's
signature and no inscription are some of his earliest.
Click
on any image below to enlarge:
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Cross
(inscribed
"Jesus is the Only Way")
15 1/4" x 18"
paint on wood, wear from outdoor exposure
$350
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Cross
(Three)
(inscribed
"Jesus" with crosses)
21 1/2" x 22"
paint on wood, wear from outdoor exposure, the red
paint signifies the blood of Christ
$375
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"Miracle
Cross Garden
Lifting
Up Jesus"
38" x 6 1/2"
paint on wood,
natural wear from outdoor exposure
$375
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Cross
(Two)
12 1/4" x 14 1/2"
paint on wood, wear from outdoor exposure, the red
paint signifies the blood of Christ
$325
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Cross
(One)
11 3/4"x 13"
paint on wood, wear from outdoor exposure, the red
paint signifies the blood of Christ
SOLD
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"Jesus"
13" x 7 1/4"
paint sign on tin, natural wear from outdoor exposure
SOLD
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Cross
(inscribed
"Jesus" with crosses)
13 1/4" x 19"
paint on wood, wear from outdoor exposure, red signifies
the blood of Christ
$325
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Rice
Cross Garden Jesus
19 3/4" x 13"
painted sign on tin, natural wear from outdoor exposure,
red signifies the blood of Christ
$400
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Untitled
Cross
24” x 24”
paint on wood, some wear from outdoor exposure
SOLD
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God
is Love
28” x 4 ½”
paint on wood, some wear from outdoor exposure
SOLD
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Lifting
Up Jesus
25” x 4”
paint on wood, some wear from outdoor exposure
SOLD
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Just
14 ¼” x 5”
paint on wood, some wear from outdoor exposure
SOLD
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Rice
Cross Garden
37 ¾” x 5 ½”
paint on wood, some wear from outdoor exposure
$350
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