Daddy Hall: A Biography in 80 Linocuts
A striking visual saga in linocuts of the life of John `Daddy' Hall, a man of Mohawk and African-American descent who survived war, capture and slavery to become a pillar of the community in nineteenth-century Owen Sound, Ontario.
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Tony Miller is a Canadian painter, sculptor and printmaker. Born and raised in Owen Sound, his experiences facing racism and poverty instilled in him a fascination with his African roots. His art reflects his appreciation of the beauty of many cultures and seeks to explore the effects of past and present on the human race.
`Miller's linocuts are harsh in their black-and-white contrast, but they benefit the story of Hall's tenacious journey in a land built on colonialism and Black and Indigenous slavery. The compelling images range from Hall in various forms of imprisonment and Indigenous communities fighting in the wars of the American and British. The mesmerizing linocuts communicate Hall's unstoppable will to live and prove that while a picture is worth a thousand words, it is also worth a thousand emotions.'
- Maria Siassina - This Magazine`The images are clear, striking and have remarkable depth that requires a few minutes of study to fully appreciate. They call to mind work from the Harlem Renaissance, which Clarke also notes in his foreword. The way Miller builds textures is impressive and adds much to each image. It's hard to believe this is all pulled off using only white and black, which speaks to Millers talent as an artist. Everything is beautifully composed and emotionally evocative.
`Even if it weren't the sesquicentennial, Daddy Hall would be required reading. But the fact that it is a historic year makes this biography of a Black Canadian hero even more important to read.'
- Pat Reddick - Broken Pencil
