Tempo Series #2 2010

Artist: Oh, my! This thing looks like a beautiful kite that’s crashed gently into a very polite wall. Historian: Well said! We're looking at Sam Gilliam’s "Tempo Series #2," a mixed media piece created in 2010, blending acrylic, gouache, and watercolor. Gilliam, of course, is renowned for pushing the boundaries of color field painting. Artist: Boundaries… right, because canvas just wasn't quite a rebellious enough medium for a free spirit like him. Seriously, though, it has such a fluid, almost dance-like quality to it, doesn’t it? A conversation between control and… glorious chaos. Historian: It’s quite interesting how Gilliam challenges traditional notions of the canvas itself. By freeing it from its stretcher, he invites a performative aspect. He transforms the act of painting into almost sculpture. This echoes broader postmodern trends where art seeks to transcend the static, pictorial space. Artist: Absolutely. I imagine him standing back, deciding where the canvas… sorry, the fabric decides to bend. The folds change everything, transforming each color into something a little bit other. Historian: He certainly makes the work breathe! The colors are vivid, almost flag-like, but their arrangement refuses any straightforward symbolism. It is a very unique presentation. It prompts questions about what painting *can* be. What is its relationship with the architectural space, the wall, in which it’s exhibited? Artist: He’s using the wall as another colour in the arrangement—brilliant! But back to that "flag-like" observation: to me it recalls sunsets reflected in melting glaciers. Kind of somber and joyous simultaneously. It's heavy with feeling! Historian: Interesting how personal experience shapes interpretation! This piece invites precisely that – the spectator is invited to participate actively in shaping the work's narrative. We also have to remember that it’s impossible to ignore the socio-political dimensions. Gilliam, as an African American artist, worked against the background of the Civil Rights Movement and a system that often confined black art to specific, and frequently ghettoized, categories. Artist: In short: He’s taking charge! He just makes me so happy with his "you can’t tell me what art is supposed to be" attitude. Historian: He certainly redefined that art's limitations! "Tempo Series #2" embodies this spirit—forever vibrant, constantly questioning. Artist: Yep, its like… a burst of joy just hit the wall and then took a nap!