Threal

Kuumba (Swahili for Creativity) is what drives James R. Threalkill’s artistic experiences. “I’m grateful to have been blessed with the talent to create images that express my interpretations of the world around me”.A former wide receiver recruited to play football at Vanderbilt University by legendary coach Bill Parcells, James began painting at age 13. “I grew up with a love for the arts and it has been a part of my life since the first grade” he adds.James has enjoyed an exceptional degree of accomplishments as an artist. He began working with youth in community centers and earned an Emmy Award in 1994 for a mural project he coordinated with his students for a cable television program.He took his mural painting program to South Africa in 1995 to create a mural with students from Soweto and Johannesburg. During the trip, he sat and talked face to face with Nelson Mandela. “Truly one of the most incredible moments of my life” he shares. The mural now hangs in the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto where Mandela and Steve Biko first began organizing freedom movement meetings to protest the Apartheid regime.James’ work with children led to him serving as a co-illustrator of a children’s book series entitled; “Visions: African American Experiences” that was featured on Sesame Street. His painting entitled; “Gulf Coast Sunset” was featured in the Disney Movie “Snow Dogs” starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and James Coburn.James’ work has also been featured on the “Jamie Foxx Show” and was a part of the Masterworks Collection of the Tennessee State Museum. He was one of 12 artists selected for the Gannett Foundation New Millennium Series and his work included in a number of collections of major corporations and universities.James states that; “I enjoy the process of creating images that will impact individuals in some significant manner.” He calls it the process of capturing special moments from life that will last for a lifetime.One of the nations’ best-kept secrets as an artist, this MySpace debut will introduce the world to the artist affectionately know as “Threal”.For more information you can email James at [email protected] or by phone at 615.642.4062.