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Bessemer, AL Thornton "Little Buck" Dial Jr. 1953- Paintings

Information: Born in the "Pipe Shop" neighborhood of Bessemer, "Little Buck," as he is known to friends (his father's nickname is "Buck"), attended school through the eleventh grade, after which he dropped out, moved to nearby Birmingham, and began eight years of work in construction. Upon returning to his hometown, he found employment with the Pullman Standard Company (his father's employer), where he stayed until the factory closed in the late 1980s. After that, he began working with his brothers in the family's steel patio-furniture business. Dial's artwork is influenced by furniture, by the holiday lawn displays that are especially abundant in Bessemer, and by the heavy industry of the region and his background. As with other Dial family artists, he often uses animals and religious themes-with a satiric twist-as a vehicle for social commentary. Southern Spirit

	Reference / Links:
	Southern Spirit Outsider Folk Art Gallery Slotin Folk Art Outsider Folk Art
	(Detour Art is not responsible for the content of external web sites.)

Bibliography: Slotin Folk Art Auction Catalog, Masterpiece Sale, November 4, 2006 "Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century American Folk Art and Artists" by Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Abbeville Press, New York, 1990. "20th Century American Folk, Self Taught, and Outsider Art" by Betty-Carol Sellen, Cynthia J. Johnson, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York, 1993. "American Self-Taught Art: An Illustrated Analysis of 20th Century Artists and Trends with 1,319 Capsule Biographies" by Florence Laffal and Julius Laffal, 2003. "Self Taught, Outsider, and Folk Art—A guide to American Artists, Locations and Resources" by Betty-Carol Sellen with Cynthia J. Johnson, 2000. "Souls Grown Deep: African American vernacular Art of the South", Vol 2, Arnett, et al, 2001. "Testimony: Vernacular Art of the African-American South: the Ronald and June Shelp Collection", Cronwill, Danto, Gaither, Gundaker and McWillie, 2001.

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