Jim Dine

1970 / 28 min. / color
Directed by Michael Blackwood 

Jim Dine’s compelling connection to words and writing is visceral in both his poetry and painting. The artist does not feel the two mediums are mutually exclusive, but rather that they have the ability to heighten one another. It is in this realm of overlap that Dine’s art exists. In reference to his use of words within his paintings, Dine says that, “making works from words rather than from color” (Jim Dine) is entirely the same thing. Whatever vessel or method one uses to create art then becomes their tool. Dine moves through his work, feverishly utilizing charcoal, paint, and his own hands to create pieces such as Picabia III (Groans) and Picabia II (Forgot). Dine’s style and structure evoke a chaotic stream of consciousness that allows his viewer to glance inside the artist’s mind. Whether it be words or objects, Dine seeks to bring forth meaning through focus and repetition. Symbols and images often repeat themselves in Dine’s pieces and his palpable interest in his subjects infuses them with a rare kind of poetic power.