Haun now has 23 large wooden barn quilts on buildings along historic Route 66 in Jasper County. They come in different colorways and represent modern folk art installations.
Most of the business for the barn quilts comes from word of mouth. Haun’s been 'cold knocking' on the doors of homeowners along Route 66. While some have been suspicious that he’s giving the art away for free, the people have been friendly overall.
"When you're giving art away, like there has to be a catch. And I'm like, no, man, I'm just trying to make the world better.” Haun said. “But most people get it.”
Kenneth Swindle from Avilla has one of Haun's patriotic barn quilts on his property. People have stopped by his property wondering about the artwork. He and his wife have always had an interest in quilts —- his wife even taught quilting classes.
"I'd always liked the idea of putting one up on the barn, but just never had done it. And when he came up with these things, we were all 100% for it," Swindle said.
For Haun, it's cool to create something that will outlive him, something he called a long-term payoff for the process of cold knocking on people's doors and installing the quilts.
"When you do a piece of art that literally could last 50 years, last 100. You don't know who it's going to inspire down the road, and they're going to see that. [Somebody] might be inspired, and they might create something even better," he said.
Four of Haun's pieces are featured in a new Route 66 exhibition at Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin. The exhibition, '66 Stories: Attractions, Oddities, & Americana,' celebrates the visual culture of the historic road. The center put out a national call for entries. There are 45 pieces from 11 states. The exhibit recently opened on May 30 and closes on August 1.
Spiva's Marking and Impact Strategist, Paige Mock, said the center is excited to have Haun's artwork for a closer viewing.
"And we're excited to have had him be a part of it somehow because that's definitely a way that something different and specific to Jasper County, part of Route 66, that you're not going to find anywhere else, because he's keeping it local," said Mock.
The second exhibition is named after photographer VC Tornden, who took photos using only the reflections of places she saw along the Mother Road. The exhibit opened on May 30 and is open until July 25.
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