It seems that others tried to pigeonhole Sam into a style of painting that didn't interest him. It's fortunate that he followed his own vision. Great video!
Must admit it's hard for me to wrap my head around most of the drape painting/sculpture. But then again, that's the main reason I love art - to challenge my perceptions and preconceptions. Thanks!
Thank you for this. This is a terrific mix of bio, history, aesthetics, technique and intentions. (Too much 'art talk' is a speaker or writer just parroting some hyperbola over and over again. Zero information.) I know of Gilliam, seen a lot of his work, don't remember it that well because it was in museums where the number of paintings is always overwhelming. But I am sure, as here, I immediately recognize in the straight line paintings design elements that make it immediately interesting. Also after seeing artist like Gilliam, Stella, Mondrian I would try to make 'knock offs' in Illustrator and Photoshop of various hard edge works. When nothing comes out of it, I've learned something. 1/16th inch, a slight color shift can make all the difference. I'm surprised Kandinsky wasn't mentioned as an inspiration. The hanging piece is like Kandinsky in that its palette isn't limited in anyway, there's a diversity of elements, elements float on the surface. Symphony was said about Kandinsky and that's also definitely happening here. Your video will help reinforce the Sam Gilliam neuron in my brain; so next museum it'll light up, I'll pay closer attention, remember more. I once photographed brand new work of a painter from Mississippi or Alabama who'd covered the entire interior of a rental studio in Los Angeles with cardboard because he was so energetic. It was like walking on fly paper. I'm sure he was inspired by Gilliam. That's an element of painting I don't anyone has intentionally done anything with -- yet.
Love this series by Sam. I had the pleasure of seeing him speak about his work in Houston years ago. He was very excited about returning to hard edge abstraction as he had gone back to work on a series of shaped panels.
