Thornton Dial Sr. in his McCalla, Alabama, studio. 1997. Photo by Jerry Siegel. Jerry SiegelSpecial events highlighting legendary artist Thornton Dial Sr. are happening on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus this fall in conjunction with the largest-ever exhibition in Alabama of his works.
“I, Too, Am Alabama” is presented by UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts and is on display through Dec. 10. The exhibition is curated by Paul Barrett and organized by AEIVA’s Tina Ruggieri. It includes many works by Dial that have never been exhibited or published before, as well as 360-degree video of his studio and documentary footage of the artist creating one of his signature drawings.
Free programming around the exhibition “I, Too, Am Alabama” will feature guest artists, community discussions and more. Visit uab.edu/aeiva or call 205-975-6436 for more information or for updates. AEIVA, located at 1221 10th Ave. South, Birmingham, is open from noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is free.
Wednesday, Oct. 5: ArtPlay Lunch & Learn
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, join ArtPlay at noon for an in-depth and firsthand discussion focused on how Thornton Dial’s art changed, in both method and style, after his stroke and how traumatic brain injuries affected another artist’s work and how those challenges have affected their creative practice. Featuring artists Richard Dial and Jakob Dwight, this event is inspired by AEIVA’s Thornton Dial “I, Too, Am Alabama” exhibition. The virtual, one-hour “Lunch & Learn” event is free with registration. Register online.
Thursday, Oct. 6: Movie, Pizza and a Tour
For this Movie, Pizza and a Tour on Thursday, Oct. 6, immerse yourself in Dial’s works at AEIVA, then see a special screening of Alabama Public Television’s series “Monograph” episode paying tribute to Dial, one of Alabama’s most prolific vernacular artists. The screening is special thanks to newly discovered footage of Dial found by Alabama Public Television that has never been seen and is now being reworked into the episode.
For this “Monograph” episode, host Jackie Clay spends time with Dial’s family and speaks with Dial’s friend and fellow artist Lonnie Holley. Together they discuss Dial’s life, his art and his legacy.
Movie, Pizza and a Tour is free and starts at 5:30 p.m. The event features a discussion led by Gareth Jones, host of “Sleep in Cinema” and director of the UAB Office of Service Learning and Undergraduate Education. A Q-and-A with the “Monograph” production team will follow the screening.
Thursday, Oct. 20: “Chamber Music @ AEIVA”
In partnership with the UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music, AEIVA will present a thoughtfully curated selection of music in conjunction with poetry readings by Alabama Poet Laureate Ashley Jones on Thursday, Oct. 20. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m., with the concert at 6 p.m. The “Chamber Music @ AEIVA” performance is in response to the works and themes of the “I, Too, Am Alabama” exhibition and curated by cellist and UAB Department of Music Adjunct Professor Laura Usiskin.
Thursday, Nov. 10: Spoken Word
UAB students will write and perform poetry in response to the works and themes of AEIVA’s “I, Too, Am Alabama” exhibition, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. This Spoken Word event is presented in partnership with the UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of English and Creative Writing Program.