Thornton Dial

"Art ain’t about paint. It ain’t about canvas. It’s about ideas,” artist Thornton Dial, says. “Too many people died without ever getting their mind out to the world. I have found how to get my ideas out and I won’t stop. I got ten thousand left." This short film examines the extraordinary life and work of 77-year-old black contemporary artist Thornton Dial. It also explores the uniquely important improvisational style and viewpoint of Southern African-American visual artists in American history. This visual arts appendage of jazz and the blues was born of the same experiences of Southern African-Americans, and much like their original musical styles, has been appropriated by many now-famous white artists.
Thornton Dial was born in the Black Belt of Alabama. He neither reads nor writes, yet art critics call him a genius. Michael Kimmelman of The New York Times hailed him as one of the most “preternaturally gifted” living artists in America. So then why is his name not well-known?
The current movement toward recognizing and elevating great “self-taught” talents, such as Dial, is causing the artistic intelligentsia to reexamine its own prejudices: What is art and where it is born-through talents honed in elite art school classes or through life experiences? It asks us all about genius,” curator Dr. Alvia Wardlaw says, “and where does it reside.”

[@douglashenrylewis]

Beautiful Man & Works

[@tarjithornton3525]

This man is extremely talented and wise despite not having any formal education.

[@TracieChandler-gc7lk]

Thanks for the comments my Great Uncle ❤

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

True that sir