Sax Man 1974

Curator: Right now, we're looking at LeRoy Neiman's "Sax Man" from 1974. It's a vibrant, almost dizzying work rendered in mixed media, characteristic of Neiman's energetic style. Editor: It practically vibrates! The colors leap off the surface, and the dynamism of the brushstrokes really capture a sense of movement and sound. It feels very expressive and immediate. Curator: Neiman was known for capturing the energy of live performance and sporting events. There's a sense of capturing a moment, or freezing time in this frenetic action of this saxophone player, but it makes one wonder how did jazz influence the politics of culture? Editor: Incredibly! This feels like an evocation, even a celebration, of the kind of creative exuberance of the 1970s music scene. The saxophonist as almost a Dionysian figure… that purple background and bright splashes just scream hedonism and artistic liberation. There is also the long standing image of a sax man dating back to early American jazz era. Curator: Yes, jazz was important, with clear expressionist roots, its an artform of liberation for Black people. Neiman uses bold strokes and brilliant colors that seem almost Fauvist in their intensity, wouldn’t you agree? Note also how the figure and the instrument are almost merged together through those vibrant pigments. It's almost like the music is flowing directly from the musician's mind through his instrument. Editor: I’d go further and state that it feels so intentionally ephemeral—like the very sound it aims to represent. This kind of art allowed new subjects to emerge and for art and culture to influence civil rights, social equality and push social issues in different, provocative ways. Curator: It makes me think about how important the public perception is to visual artworks in today’s contemporary society. I feel honored to witness its brilliance and how culture develops over time through the beauty of its creative expression. Editor: Indeed. Looking at "Sax Man," one cannot help but reflect on the role music and visual art have played—and still play—in defining who we are, and I hope our visitors leave appreciating the beauty of it too.