River Falls 2008

Curator: "River Falls," a mixed-media work dating from 2008 by Sam Gilliam. What strikes you first about this abstract composition? Editor: Its mood is so contemplative—like gazing into a shimmering dream. I see veils of color and light interacting with subtle depths. It is quiet, very serene, in some ways even sublime. Curator: Gilliam was known for his exploration of color and form. The layers in this work are created with acrylic and gouache, applied with, shall we say, unconventional methods, almost floating across the canvas. Look closely. What structural techniques did the artist utilize? Editor: The underpainting technique creates this beautiful sense of transparency, it looks like you are peering through layers. This layered approach deconstructs traditional pictorial space—challenging the eye to reconcile a new reality, piece by piece. The geometric arrangement of blocks of colors adds further depth to this composition. Curator: It's that interaction that excites me! Gilliam loved to push the boundaries of painting, often staining directly onto the canvas rather than traditional brushwork. His embrace of experimentation is key to his appeal, even late in his career. Does the materiality evoke anything further, given the work's title? Editor: Yes, actually. There is definitely something aqueous and ethereal in its execution. This interplay produces a subtle tension between representation and abstraction—water is depicted, but the form and color become elements that express feeling, emotion and energy—transforming visual art into pure sentiment. Curator: Absolutely. His method allowed for a sense of spontaneity and freedom that contrasts nicely with the overall sense of quiet contemplation, almost meditative. This ability to straddle both worlds defines this artwork. Editor: Gilliam’s “River Falls” shows us that, indeed, paintings can capture more than images—they also reveal a spectrum of raw, tender, intimate feelings. Curator: It really does. It’s an invitation to drift along with the currents of emotion it embodies.