Sometimes, life goes a little sideways. In 2014, Tom Thoune in Charlotte NC experienced this firsthand when he suffered a cerebellar stroke. He was only in his early fifties. Although he survived, vertigo, nausea, instability, and tremors became part of his daily life. Even worse, the stroke compromised use of the left side of his body. As an artist — and particularly as a left-handed artist — it was a devastating turn of events.
However, Thoune refused to wallow. Instead, he redoubled his dedication to his craft. Every day, he used a timer to gradually increase the number of minutes and then hours that he was able to spend creating, working his way slowly up to a four-hour day. In addition to rebuilding his stamina and attention span, Thoune also had to redevelop the fine motor skills in his dominant hand. With patience and painstaking diligence, he retrained his muscles, leaning on his right hand for help when his left hand wasn’t up to the task. He also embraced new media such as collage as he healed, matching his artistic expression to the art forms best suited to his healing process. “Since my stroke, I am lucky to say that, although I am not fast, I have reclaimed my talents and abilities,” says Thoune.
For someone with such prodigious talents, the reclamation of a thriving art practice served not only Thoune but also Charlotte residents, who Thoune has challenged, empowered, taught, and uplifted through his work since moving to the Queen City in his early twenties. Although a self-taught artist himself, Thoune taught painting courses at Central Piedmont Community College before pouring 15 years into the textile industry. He then focused his attention on public art installations, producing pieces for a Charlotte Mecklenburg police station, a light rail station, the McGill Rose Garden, and more shared spaces. Over the years, these installations have complemented exhibits at the McColl Center, Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and Studio K.
The Art of Resilience
These days, Tom Thoune in Charlotte NC works with ceramics, mosaics, 2D and 3D mixed media, and paintings. He continues to nurture relationships with organizations like the Charlotte Arts and Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council, both of which have awarded Thoune grants. In fact, Thoune is currently working on a heritage project funded by the Charlotte Arts and Science Council for which he will travel to southwest France to trace his family’s roots.
While many of his peers are beginning to retire, Thoune only feels the steady drumbeat of continuous creation. He continues to find new outlets for his work. For example, he recently wrapped up a mosaic commissioned by the city of Mount Holly, and he’s currently outfitting a studio where he will begin offering private art lessons “I wake up early and charged at 63,” says Thoune, “thinking about the creation of something.”
Thomas Thoune’s story is one of perseverance, transformation, and a relentless drive to create. What could have ended a brilliant career instead became the catalyst for a powerful evolution. With each piece he produces, Thoune reminds us that art — and life — isn’t about avoiding adversity but transforming it into something enduring and beautiful.
