Talk:Sam Gilliam

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[edit] New Picture

I added this better picture of Gilliam from the Smithsonian archives. It is not as "free" as the previous one, but I think it does the job better. Do we have a consensus? The older picture is at: Image:Picture 1114.jpg --Knulclunk 16:16, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

As the {{Smithsonian}} tag has been depreciated by WP, I replaced the older image until we can get a better picture or repro rights to the previous one. --Knulclunk 01:48, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Personal remarks by IP User:71.67.146.163

note: this section needs to reflect WP:NPOV and be rewritten in a more objective tone. - Modernist 11:47, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Sam Gilliam’s approach to making a piece of artwork inspires me as an artist. Visually, the painting occupies ¾ of a whole gallery wall, and seems to be made of tarp or canvas stuck directly on the wall, not framed. There appears to be a fragment of an American flag on the bottom right corner which has been somewhat painted over. There is a big triangle shape cut out of the tarp in the bottom center of the work, and a half of a brick sticking directly out of the canvas. There is a 3D cubed pole resting diagonally from the painting to the floor. This and other elements to the piece give the work more of a sculptural form than do other paintings.

Gilliam’s work reminds me of Jackson Pollock’s work. Pollock and Gilliam have very chaotic, random splatter marks. Both artists’ work is haphazard looking, but unified in an almost serene way. The hectic-ness does not take precedence over other more important formal elements in the work. The texture is ever-present and almost overpowering. Like Pollock’s work, there are violent splatter marks. It looks like the slashing marks are that of a lion clawing into the surface wet paint. It appears that there is painted cotton, or some similar material, painted over on the top of the canvas to give a thicker, more textural look to the paint as well.

The colors of the work are somewhat muddy, yet neutral, but still seem vibrant in the infrequent spots of pure color. The majority of the color in the work is a sky blue, pale yellow, cadmium yellow, a faded red, brown umber, black, and a pale pea green. On a closer look, there is a silver almost glittery paint brushed over areas of the canvas’ surface. On second glance of the piece, it appears that there are many different fabrics that are sewn together to make up the surface. The canvas appears to be a tarp. It has the eye-lit holes on the edges like a tarp does. The hem from the background fabric pieces sewn together actually serves as a function to lead the viewer’s eye around also. The tarp does not lie flat on the wall; it has some texture and ridges. Each time it is hung, it cannot be hung exactly like the last. It takes on a slightly different shape and feel depending upon the environment that encompasses it. The tarp displays a slight shadow on the wall next to and under the piece. Also, the shape of the canvas is not rectangular. I reference Frank Stella’s invention of the unshaped canvas. Gilliam’s canvas is not a perfect rectangle, and he does not strive for straight angular sides. Also, the canvas has a few small rips in it throughout the surface giving surface texture and sense of form to the whole piece.

What interests me most about Madison Blues is that everything in the piece serves the purpose to keep the viewer interested in the piece. Everything from the direction of the brush strokes, to the striped teal and faded red vertical and horizontal patterned fabric under the paint leads the viewer’s eye continually around the work and back into it. The triangle cutout in the bottom middle lets the viewer’s eye rest for a moment, then focus on the pole just to the right of the cutout to lead the eye back into the piece, then on to the remnants of the flag’s horizontal stripes, which lead your eye back left and not off the page. I love his approach to making a piece of art, and I admire how every part of the work keeps the viewer’s eye interested and intrigued in the piece. Modernist 10:48, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Ugh. what is with the in line (perry) references? Don't we prefer footnotes? --Knulclunk 14:21, 29 October 2007 (UTC)
Yes, thats part of the problem those (perry) references. I'm going to remove them. It would be helpful if someone could footnote or reference the article and add more text. The section above was written by IP User:71.67.146.163 and it is unusable in its present form. Modernist 01:09, 30 October 2007 (UTC)