George Andrews, the Dot Man June 24, 2008
Posted by Deborah in : Digital Projects , trackbackBenny Andrews gave SCAD a very nice small collection of articles and exhibit brochures, which have been processed into the Benny Andrews Collection, MS 011. The collection included several books, including one about his father: The Dot Man: George Andrews of Madison, Georgia by J. Richard Gruber, published by the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia in 1997. The book has been cataloged and is shelved in Special Collections. It is probably not a well known book, and the older Andrew’s art is worth a closer look, full of life, exuberance, and symbolism, with a touch of humor, also. We requested that the Visual Resource Center scan some of the images from the book and place them in their Image Database for SCAD students, faculty, and staff. You must be logged into MySCAD to access the SCAD Digital Image Database. When you arrive at their Image Search screen, Type in George Andrews under Artist’s Name and type in Benny Andrews under Archive Source. You should receive 10 results.
There is a wonderful article in Art Journal, Volume 53, Number 1, Spring 1994 on page 22, where George Andrews is interviewed by his son, Benny. It can be found in the library’s database, JSTOR. George Andrews, known as “the Dot Man,” was born in 1911 in Plainview, Georgia, of Scottish, Cherokee, and African ancestry. His interest in art began when he was very young. He left school to work in the fields of his father’s plantation, drawing in the evenings when he returned home. He married Viola Perryman and the couple had ten children. Viola was a writer and it seems the family was full of talent. A family art exhibit entitled Art of the Family: Benny Andrews and Nene Humphrey was organized by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2000, and featured works from several family members including George
George was known for his love of painting images on barns, which led to a short career as a sign painter. After retiring in the 1950’s, he began painting bright dots on rocks around Madison, Georgia, and soon gained the name, “the Dot Man.” He painted every surface he could and soon he became recognized for his trademark bright colors and dot patterns. His son, Benny Andrews, began supplying him with canvas, which he adapted quite well.
Various Objects, 20th Century, Decorated by George Andrews, photograph from page 27 of The Dot Man: George Andrews of Madison, Georgia.
Look on our exhibits page on George Andrews to see a few more of the images. If you need a better quality image, go to the Visual Resources Center SCAD Digital Image Database. Of course, there are lots more images in the book. You can purchase the book on George Andrews from the Morris Museum of Art’s web site. And, of course, you can always come to Special Collection and take a look!
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