Stars of Everything (for Thornton Dial)

everything
is shining inside
close my eyes
and the world
explodes into forever
silence that shouts “yes!”

Thornton Dial, a wonderful assemblage artist from Alabama, died in January.  He was always making things, from childhood on, and was employed for many years as a metalworker.  His later years were entirely devoted to his art, which incorporated recycled materials and often dealt with political themes.  Anything he found that had been discarded was an inspiration for his creations.

“Stars of Everything” is one of his more well-known works, and includes metal and plastic cans, clothing, wood, steel, plastic straws, carpet and rope.  For my first interpretation, below, I tried to stay closer to the original, but then I decided just to cut out stars from the earth, water and sky and growing things, and ended up with the mandala above.  That one reflects more of Dial’s spirit I think.

“Art is like a bright star up ahead in the darkness of the world.  It can lead peoples through the darkness and help them from being afraid of the darkness….Art is a guide for every person who is looking for something.”
–Thornton Dial

The poem is another shadorma.