The Last Folk Hero: A True Story of Race And Art, Power And Profit

by Andrew Dietz

The lives and works of blue-collar, African American artists Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley are documented in this true story of outsider art, ego, exploitation, and race. Following the interaction between Dial, an illiterate factory worker with creative genius, his comrade-in-arts Holley, and Bill Arnett, a wealthy, white, and infamous art patron, this account details the obsessions and exploitations found in the soap-opera world of modern art. Congressmen, business tycoons, movie stars, academics, and the cultural elite all play roles in a story where the distinction between hero and villain evaporate amid the twisted motivations of the art market.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography

377 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Andrew Dietz is the author of The Last Folk Hero: A Story of Race, Art, Power, and Profit, which explores outsider artists and the stubborn power of creativity to surface even under the most difficult circumstances, and Follow the Meander, a book about living a more creative life through deep curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown, the provocative, and the unexpected.

Ever U is his first novel. It was inspired in part by the beauty and mystery of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and the experimental spirit of Black Mountain College, though its characters, campus, and story are entirely imagined. (With one partial exception: Keetz, who was inspired by the brilliant Jonathan Keats and his adventures involving slime mold, musical crickets, and other improbable pursuits.)

Calder the Dog is real and agreed to have his likeness included in Ever U in exchange for extra bacon.

Andrew lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Janice, and Calder.

Reviews

[Robert Hobkirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dietz puts his shoulder to the wheel to tell the fascinating tale of the outsider art world. If you thought that all it takes is talent to make it in the art world, you got another thing coming. Who you know turns out to be more important than if you can draw or not. Besides the politics of who you know there are other factors at work, such as race. Dietz tells the fascinating personal stories of America's outside artists, those who were self taught and didn't copy the Western tradition. What the outsider produces is unique.

I was at a gallery in Northern CA looking at some paintings. They looked as if the artist had been a student at U of Davis. They had that look about them. A lot of the students from there painted the same. One of the art teachers, Wayne Tiebaud, had made the big time, selling his painting for millions in NY. Naturally, his students wanted to do the same, so they painted like him. This isn't where outside artists come from. I asked the artist where he went to school. He said Davis with a BA and MFA. He said, "But I'm self taught." At that show, he sold about $30,000 worth of paintings which were done very well, just not that unique.

[Andrew Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I wrote the book, I reckon I'm a bit biased about it. I began writing this in Fall 2002 and worked on it in my "spare time" while working full time...the book hit stores in Spring 2006.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it immensely! Filled in a lot of blanks for me.

[Saraq · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read if you're interested in the Folk Art scene.

[Christine Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far it is a great overview of the art world and how it has intersected with artists and dealers who are not necessarily part of the established scene.

[Dindy]

A blatant lie about a man who gave up everything for art and artists.