• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Small Museum of Folk Art

Siler City, NC

  • Events
  • Collections
    • Artists
  • Education
    • Online Activity Bank
    • Glossary of Folk Art Terms
    • Bibliography
  • Support
  • Blog
  • About
    • What’s the Small Museum?
    • Community
    • Press
    • Contact Us
328, Sam "The Dot Man" McMillan, Clock

Clock

By Sam "The Dot Man" McMillan

391, Same "The Dot Man" McMillan, Frame with Smithsonian Cover picture of Sam

Artist Info

Born: 1926 (Robeson County, NC)

About Sam "The Dot Man" McMillan

391, Same "The Dot Man" McMillan, Frame with Smithsonian Cover picture of Sam

Sam was born in Robeson County and lives in Winston-Salem, NC. He worked in tobacco and cotton fields, drove trucks, made, sold and repaired furniture, and as a handyman. Taking items from his workshop, Sam would then paint them in bright colors with happy scenes of people, animals, trees, all surrounded by a multitude of dots. Known primarily for his furniture, Sam will paint almost anything at hand–clothes, toys, tools, appliances, shoes, bicycles, and much more. At 89, Sam declared himself “retired” from painting.

Learn More and See Additional Works by This Artist

Art Description

This clock has one of Sam’s favorite images and phrases: white and black children hold hands, and below them Sam has written “If we hold hands, we can’t fight.” An American flag is included to show that he means this to address the people of the United States. Despite having experienced the discrimination and violence of the Jim Crow South, Sam has frequently used his career as an artist to promote racial harmony and togetherness.

Signed on the front.

Art Details

Viewing Status:
Collection: Jim Massey
Accession Number: 328

Footer

Supported by a Grassroots Arts Grant from

The Small Museum of Folk Art
219 East Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-642-3866
smallmuseumfolkart@gmail.com

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 Small Museum of Folk Art · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design