A Visit to the Bill Arnett Collection

James Kalm travels to Atlanta Georgia to allow viewers to take advantage of a generous invitation to visit one of Americas most unique art collections. Bill Arnett and his son Matt have amassed one of the largest collections of vernacular African-American art in the world. Featuring works from artists like Thornton Dail, Purvis Young and Lonnie Holley, the Arnetts are committed to the further study and advocacy of this vibrant but widely overlooked aspect of American visual art. Part I includes a virtually uncut interview with the controversial Bill Arnett, as he articulately explores the cultural implications of this work.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• James
• Kalm
• Bill
• Arnett
• collection
• Matt
• Thornton
• Dial
• Purvis
• Young
• Lonnie
• Holly
• Atlanta
• Georgia
• painting
• drawing
• sculpture
• assemblage
• African-American
• folk
• art
• outsider

[bobwilsonray]

Is it exploitation that a collector collects the art of a poor artist and the artist's lot in life improves? Was Dubuffet an exploiter or a wise man who saw art in the work of the outsider? What is Bill's financial state? Has he become a millionaire by collecting this work? Appears to me that he has it at home and not on the market. James, did he not suffer some (I thought I saw a docementary about this) financially or at least personally someway for his involvement in the art?

[jameskalm]

I have no idea of his financial situation, but he said he's lost considerable sums (millions) in the pursuit of this project. Like many people who have an unshakable belief in something, he's taken considerable grief, and his health and well being have suffered. The commitment to his vision should be applauded.

[spawndawnacl]

I found this troubling. Wealthy white georgian explanations of the black experience. Not knowing the word "art,' etc. The commentary was filled with embracing insensate posteriors and scrubbing the nails. I thought the paintings great, but found the collecting exploitive. I was waiting for the N-bomb to be dropped. The background music should have been from Neil Young. No drool cup required here. Many, many thanks.

[jameskalm]

spawn,

your feelings were reflected by Morley Safer when he and the Sixty Minute crew did a hatchet job on Bill in the late nineties. Ive bee involved in the art world for over thirty years now, and its rare to see someone with Bills passion. What one person calls exploitation, someone else might call preservation or promotion. Without Bills intervention most of this work probably wouldnt exist. Dial remains very close to the family. Stay tuned for Part II.

[folkartkilla]

@adriennegarrett no need to ride in the south when you are already there, besides it is too hot to do anything but sit and sweat, the cockroaches and mosquito are my friend... I am green not white by the way, Dial is nothing compared to true southern black artist like Sam Doyle, Z.B Armstrong, Jimmy Sudduth and of course Bill Traylor. Dial is a fabrication....Oh and Jasper Johns is a Carolina Boy, but probably not your color preference.

[adriennegarrett]

@folkartkilla

Whe' you from, white boy? You need to put down the books, lose the art historical yada yada and take a ride South. Then-to the Indianapolis Museum and Joanne Cubb's show, Dial: Hard Truths; might change your mind, change your life-how this man, this genius, just plain dealt. Re: Bill Arnett. His unflagging support of Dial through some mighty tough times, brought Dial's career--in its current

manifestation--to life. Thank you, Bill. Rest of you: Hush, y'all.

Steve-get the Dial.

[folkartkilla]

@adriennegarrett crack open a book , Rausch was influenced early on by comics if anything, no real exposure to art until after the war,in California at the Huntington library, studied pharmacy early on, went to New York-Abstract Expressionism.These artist you promote,who's work has been stockpiled, did not exist back then, this work looks like upper level college art, there is nothing new about it, it is just investment hype by a retired antique dealer who knows nothing about Art History

[adriennegarrett]

@folkartkilla I may be two years late, but Good Sir, you are wrong. It was Rauschenberg who was influenced by the African American yard shows and assemblages he saw in his native South. Dial--and by the way, the artist's name is spelled Holl-e-y--Holley are the two undisputed masters of this vernacular genre.

[alabamamichimeko]

dont forget picasso ripped off the Africans...I seriously doubt Rauch influenced Dial.

[gabrielshaffer]

Ive been there multiple times. I cant express how powerful the experiences were. I could only imagine if they were presented in a museum exhibition.

[mmbbmike]

It would be nice if he would have his collection travel the world for others to view. I would love to see it on display.

[folkartkilla]

"rudimentary semantical "

lets try and stay on the topic, bringing up the "label/name" debate truely is a waste of time and mental energy, this is an art historical issue, of course if you knew what we were talking about, you would know that, but you don't, hence the fact you are bring up irrelevance....

ciao