Film Screening: “Minnie Evans: Draw or Die”

Minnie Evans: Draw or Die is a visually rich documentary exploring the life and work of Minnie Evans (1892–1987), a self-taught African American artist whose intricate, dream-infused art emerged from a deeply spiritual inner world. Evans began making art in the 1930s and continued through the 27 years she worked as the gatekeeper at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Her art—filled with bold color, symmetrical patterns, and mystical symbolism—defied convention and classification. Through archival interviews, family recollections, and Minnie’s voice, lifted from archived conversations with photographer and advocate Nina Howell Starr, the film traces Evans’s journey from obscurity to national recognition.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Linda Royal, Minnie Evans: Draw or Die offers an intimate, poetic portrait of a woman who followed a spiritual calling to create, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most important American artists of the 20th century.

Following the screening of the film, there will be a Q&A with filmmaker Linda Royal and Beverly Evans, granddaughter of Minnie Evans.

See Evans’ Untitled on view this spring during Layered Looking: Making Sense of Art.

Linda Royal is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, known for her socially and environmentally impactful storytelling. Linda grew up in rural settings—with creativity flourishing alongside a little brook that inspired her company’s name By the Brook Productions. Her dedication to documentary storytelling was formalized when she completed the Certificate in Documentary Film Arts at Duke University in 2005. Throughout her films —Millworker, Love Lived on Death Row, Bringing It Home, and STRAWS—Linda emphasizes advocacy, collaborating with nonprofits, grassroots campaigns, and environmental initiatives to amplify impact beyond the screen. Her films have been seen globally via festivals, educational platforms, community theaters, corporate venues, and even in-flight programs. Her current project, Minnie Evans: Draw or Die continues her commitment to bringing underrepresented stories to light.

Directed by Linda Royal | Runtime: 56 minutes | Documentary

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