James R. Threalkill
Artist Biography
James R. Threalkill is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. He began painting at
the age of 13 with an oil painting set purchased by his mother who was the
biggest supporter of his development as an artist. After graduating from East
Nashville High School, James was offered an athletic scholarship by legendary
football coach Bill Parcells to play football at Vanderbilt University where he
earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fine Arts.
Upon graduating from college, James returned to the public housing communities
where he grew up to conduct neighborhood art classes for youth while serving as
an instructor for the Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation’s art department. He
taught classes in painting, drawing, and batik at the Centennial Art Center for
youth, adults, and seniors.
| James would later become the Community Services Director and art instructor for
the old South Street Community Center which later became known as the Edgehill
Center, Inc. It was during his seven year tenure at Edgehill that James
developed an award-winning mural program for disadvantaged youth living in the
Edgehill public housing community. His work was recognized in 1994 when he won
an Emmy-Award for a mural produced with his students for the Viacom Cable
Network. James and the students teamed with fellow artist Michael McBride to
create murals in downtown Nashville, the Nashville International Airport and the
Vanderbilt Pediatric Clinic. |
James became the first executive director for the 100 Black Men of Middle
Tennessee where he developed programs for young African American boys in
elementary school.
James would later be appointed by then Mayor Phil Bredesen to his cabinet as the
Community Affairs and Arts Liaison for the City of Nashville, Tennessee. James
was designated as a founding Board member of the Frist Center for the Visual
Arts and also served as a commissioner for the Metro Nashville Arts Commission
and as a panelist for several selection committees for the Tennessee Arts
Commission.
After his work with Mayor Bredesen, James went on to become an art instructor at
Montgomery Bell Academy before accepting his current position as the Senior
Director of Diversity for Skanska USA Inc., a global construction management
firm where he promotes opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses. |
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James collaborated with fellow artist Michael McBride and Metro Nashville
schoolteachers Gracie Porter, Claudette Mitchell, and Patricia Cousins to
develop a groundbreaking children’s book series entitled; “Visions: African
American Experiences” which later was featured on Sesame Street. |
James’ creation “Gulf Coast Sunset” was featured in the Disney Movie “Snow Dogs”
with Cuba Gooding, Jr. and James Coburn. His work has also been featured on the
television series “The Jamie Foxx Show” and “Living Single”.
James was one of 12 artists selected from the State of Tennessee to participate
in the new millennium collection for the Gannett Foundation.
In 1995, James was invited to travel to South Africa to coordinate a mural
project with students in Soweto, South Africa. It was during this trip that
James had the experience of a lifetime when he met face to face with President
Nelson Mandela. The mural featuring images of Mandela, Steve Biko, Bishop
Desmond Tutu, and singer Miriam Makeba would later be permanently displayed at
the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto where Mandela and Biko first started planning
the freedom movement to protest the apartheid regime in South Africa.
James’ painting “Guitar Solitude” featuring one of the South African youth he
worked with won the “Best of Show” Award in the Central South Art Exhibition in
1996.
James’ artwork is included in numerous corporate and private collections
including; Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University,
The Dollar General Corporation, The Tennessee State Museum, Columbia State
Community College, Governor and First Lady Phil Bredesen and Andrea Conte’, Cal
and Maggie Turner, Actress Kim Fields, Musician Kirk Whalum, NFL stars Eddie
George, Marcus Robinson, Kevin Carter, and radio personality Tom Joyner.
James R. Threalkill’s artwork represents a passion for the beauty of life and
the vibrancy of color and movement. His images capture the essence of
individuals and their various lifestyles. His appreciation for the spontaneity
of jazz is clearly evident in his musical creations. His textured abstracts
display the freedom of creativity that he balances with his expressive realism.
James currently works out of his south Nashville art studio.
Artist Statement:
My blessing of art talent is enhanced by the sheer enjoyment I receive from the
creative process and the emotional responses that it generates from the viewer.
I am grateful to be able to share such a gift with those who appreciate the
aesthetic qualities that art brings to our everyday lives.
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