Dinosaur of the South

Homage to a Mascot of the South

Artist, Toni Ardizzone takes you to the swamp with her very exciting homage to a mascot of the South. Dinosaur of the South is a celebratory work engaging the viewer with rhythmic, vibrating color and untamed brushstrokes.  Like the alligator, which as a species has survived for more than 84 million years, the work embodies the resilience and strength needed to survive.  This project, created in this unprecedented era of COVID-19, is also intended to convey the healing power of art.  Presented by Thomasville Center for Arts in partnership with Hurst Boiler, the experience is sure to bring joy, hope, and a sense of place to this community space.

Ardizzone created the larger than life mural on site, in three phases, over six weeks using a brush and roll technique. With each phase she left the work in a state of evolution to keep you guessing about what would come next.  By layering the piece, and building on the work over time through a laborious rhythm of movement marked by bold strokes of color, she reconstructed her canvas over and over. 

Toni Ardizzone is a painter combining refined methods with a blue-collar skill set to create large-scale murals and tactile paintings. She received her BFA from Indiana University at Herron School of Art and Design in 2006. Her prolific body of work has led to several solo exhibitions across the United States as well as international recognition. In 2019, Ms. Ardizzone was selected for two artist residencies including Ayatana in Quebec, Canada and the Palimpsest Project in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She received her MFA from FSU this spring.  Visit her website at www.toniardizzone.com  or Instagram @toniardizzoneart to connect with the artist.

Learn more about Toni Ardizzone at www.toniardizzone.com and past Thomasville Center for the Arts’ public art experiences designed to connect and engage our community at the links below or visit The UnVacant Lot at 217 W Jackson Street.