Thornton Dial

Thornton Dial never spent any amount of time in the Western United States or among native people but had a great respect and admiration for them and felt a certain kinship and alignment with their struggle for equal rights. Indian Town can thus be read as a fantastical rendering of a safe place, complete with found motifs, a romanization of the potential for an esteemed but foreign culture. It is not the first time the artist examined issues related to native culture but it is, perhaps, the last work on the subject. The name Indian Town could also refer to a colloquial name for a place in Alabama. For example, while Richard Dial lives in Bessemer’s Pipe Shop, the particular area within that neighborhood is referred to as Brick Town. Waiting on him to weigh in…