Beyond the Blues, 1963
Middleton, Sam
Collage on paper, 24.25x31 inches

Constantly finding inspiration in music, Samuel Middleton approaches his art as an instrumentalist would his compositions. Beyond the Blues reflects the spontaneity and improvisation of its namesake music genre. At its center, layers of monochromatic papers and clippings, several in Spanish, sit under bold brushstrokes. The spirals, bright drips, and splashes of color suggest different types of sounds – some harsh, some soft, but all contributing to a harmonious whole.

Throughout his career, Middleton found that music supplied the kind of lyricism and fluidity he wanted in his works. The sound and harmony that come from classical music, jazz, and the blues serves Middleton as basis for his color usage, lines, and composition.