Oral history interview with Sam Gilliam

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Oral history interview with Sam Gilliam

1989 Nov. 4-11

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw91401a0dd-4bc8-462b-b67b-53a0d0eb38cb

An interview of Sam Gilliam conducted 1989 Nov. 4-11, by Ben Forgey for the Archives of American Art. Gilliam speaks of his decision to come to Washington, D.C., from Louisville, Ky.; his shift from figurative painting to abstract painting; meeting Washington painters Robert Gates and Tom Downing; the "stature" of Tom Downing in the Washington art scene in the 1960s and Walter Hopps' role; influential exhibitions at the Jefferson Place Gallery and the Washington Gallery of Modern Art; being a Washington artist and a black artist; artist/teachers at American University; the Johnson Avenue Workshop grant; his relationship with Rockne Krebs; the history of the Washington Coalition of Artists; the Corcoran Gallery and the Washington Project for the Arts' relationship to Washington artists; his involvement with the District of Columbia Art Center; teaching; and his working methods. Gilliam also discusses various paintings, processes, materials, ideas and experiments at length. He recalls Gene Davis, Howard Mehring, Ken Noland, Morris Louis, Nesta Dorrance, Alma Thomas, Lou Stovall, Al Nodal, Jock Reynolds, Michael Botwinick, Willem de Looper, Paul Reed, and others.

Sound recording: 1 sound cassette.Transcript: 28 p.

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8214318

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 16 Entities related to this resource.

Washington Project for the Arts (D.C.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ms8t8w (corporateBody)

Visual and performing art organization; Washington, D.C. Opened in 1975. From the description of Washington Project for the Arts records, [ca. 1975-1990.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122370520 ...

Krebs, Rockne, 1938-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fz56bc (person)

Sculptor; Washington, D.C. From the description of Rockne Krebs interviews, 1990 Jan. 27-1990 Feb. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220193550 Krebs, Rockne, 1938, Sculptor of Washington, D.C. From the description of Oral history interview with Rockne Krebs 1990 Jan. 27-Feb. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646398029 ...

Hopps, Walter.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ws8x4t (person)

Washington Coalition of Artists.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nh381s (corporateBody)

Jefferson Place Gallery

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cg5nwg (corporateBody)

District of Columbia Arts Center, Inc.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n64k27 (corporateBody)

Washington Gallery of Modern Art (Washington, D.C.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6935tw4 (corporateBody)

Art gallery and center; Washington, D.C. The Washington Gallery of Modern Art was a non-profit institution organized for the purpose of presenting significant exhibitions of contemporary American painting and sculpture. In conjuction with exhibitions, WGMA also sponsored lectures, concerts, films, tours, and an art rental service designed to encourage the understanding and appreciation of contemporary art. It was located at 1503 21st Street, NW, in Washington, D.C. ...

Washington Coalition of Artists.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dc40hk (corporateBody)

District of Columbia Arts Center, Inc.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61d0f6b (corporateBody)

Forgey, Benjamin

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6865779 (person)

Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Education Department

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69g9j48 (corporateBody)

Young, Kenneth, 1933-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63r1qpc (person)

Gilliam, Sam, 1933-....

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63x883r (person)

Painter; Washington, D.C. From the description of Oral history interview with Sam Gilliam, 1989 Nov. 4-11 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220240060 Sam Gilliam (1933- ) is a painter from Washington, D.C. From the description of Oral history interview with Sam Gilliam, 1984 Sept. 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78385692 Gilliam, Sam, Painter of Washington, D.C. From the description of Oral history interview with Sam Gillia...

University of Louisville

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67t1gw3 (corporateBody)

Noland, Kenneth, 1924-2010

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n58mx1 (person)

Kenneth Noland (1924- ) is a painter from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Kenneth Noland, 1971 October 9-December 21 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495596695 Painter; New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Kenneth Noland, 1971 October 9 - December 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 227191418 Kenneth Noland (1924-2010) was a painter, educator in South Salem, New York, and fr...

Downing, Thomas, 1928-1985

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60z812t (person)

Painter; Washington, D.C. and Provincetown, Mass; associated with the Washington Color School. Downing studied at Randolph-Macon and Pratt and, after military service, at Catholic University under Kenneth Noland. He later shared a studio with Howard Mehring, with whom he founded the Origo, a cooperative gallery. During the 1960s, Downing taught at the Corcoran School, numbering among his students Sam Gilliam, Rockne Krebs, and Michael Clark. The last ten years of his lif...