Freedom Cloth — Thornton Dial, Jr.
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Thornton Dial, Jr.

Freedom Cloth

Dimensions
218.0 x 172.0 cm

Explore Thornton Dial Jr.'s 'Freedom Cloth,' a monumental assemblage sculpture reflecting Black history & social justice. Layers of fabric & bird figures evoke liberation & resilience.
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Thornton Dial Jr.: Bold assemblage artist tackling social & political issues through monumental works. Exploring race, history & nature – see his powerful art.
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Dial met the quilters of Gee’s Bend in 2001, just prior to the opening of their first exhibition and subsequent rise to fame. Over the next few years, he created a number of tributes to the women and their triumph over poverty and obscurity. In 2005, he created a sculptural homage titled Freedom Cloth. The piece is an assembly of bird figures with outstretched wings roosting on a giant mound of wire, fabric, artificial flowers, and plant fronds. The birds, fashioned from rags, symbolize the women of the community whose transformation of castaway cloth into quilts afforded them expressive freedom and, more recently, the respect and admiration of a wide public audience. With that recognition there also came new social status, economic opportunities, and financial independence. Throughout Dial’s work, such birds, modeled after the bald eagle on the U.S. dollar, signify the freedom to transcend social and historical disadvantage and to aspire to the bounties of the American dream. Here, the high-soaring creatures signal not only the transcendent possibilities of old cloth, but the hope for human liberation as well.

Questions & Answers

What does "Freedom Cloth" by Thornton Dial, Jr. depict?

The themes present in "Freedom Cloth" by Thornton Dial, Jr. include black history, social justice, freedom & liberation, textile art, bird symbolism, american dream, assemblage sculpture. Together they summarize the artwork's subject matter.

What color leads the composition of "Freedom Cloth" by Thornton Dial, Jr.?

The dominant color of "Freedom Cloth" by Thornton Dial, Jr. is gray (#888a8a).

What orientation does "Freedom Cloth" by Thornton Dial, Jr. have?

"Freedom Cloth" by Thornton Dial, Jr. is a portrait composition. The proportions are worth checking before choosing a print size.

Artist Biography

biography and artistic style

thornton dial, jr., a contemporary african-american painter, sculptor, and assemblage artist, was born in 1952 in the united states. he is the eldest son of prolific modern artist thornton dial sr. and has established himself as a significant figure in american art with his bold, evocative political and social commentary.

artistic style and themes

thornton dial jr.'s work is characterized by its use of found materials, often executed on a monumental scale. his subjects range from human rights to natural disasters and current events, reflecting his engagement with the world around him. this approach has led to his works being widely held in american museums, including the metropolitan museum of art, which acquired ten of his works in 2014.

notable works and exhibitions

* strange fruit: channel 42 (251 x 198 cm, souls grown deep, atlanta, united states, assemblage) - a powerful piece depicting a modern-day lynching, utilizing a television antenna as a symbol of the persistence of racial violence. * high and wide (carrying the rats to the man) (193 x 340 cm, souls grown deep, atlanta, united states, assemblage) - a haunting scene of entrapment, recalling the horrors of the african slave trade. * featured in the whitney biennial (2000) and the hard truths exhibition at the indianapolis museum of art (2011), which marked a significant shift in the perception of his work, positioning him as a bonafide contemporary artist.

recognition and legacy

* recognized by art historian and cultural critic joanne cubbs for his first-rate, powerful art. * featured in the wall street journal as one of the best museum shows of 2011, alongside luminaries like degas, picasso, kandinsky, and willem de kooning. thornton dial, jr.'s work continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, offering a powerful commentary on the human experience.
Thornton Dial, Jr.

Thornton Dial, Jr.

1952 - , United States of America

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Thornton Dial Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Date Of Birth: 1952
  • Place Of Birth: Bessemer, United States of America
  • Notable Artworks:
    • Strange Fruit
    • High and Wide
    • Memory of the Ladies That Gave Us The Good Life
  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Assemblage Sculpture
  • Artists Who Influenced This Artist: ['Thornton Dial Sr.']
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Pop Art']