Sam Gilliam

Sam Gilliam artist talk, Thu., Aug. 14, 6 p.m., $7-$15, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St., 215-972-0522, pafa.org.

by Deni Kasrel

visuAL ART

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Sam Gilliam is an artist who genuinely thinks outside the box. In the 1960s, Gilliam freed canvases from the traditional wooden frame to create his now-famed drape paintings (pictured), and in the ensuing years he has maintained a reputation for being a tireless experimentalist. With the drape works, Gilliam poured acrylics onto loose canvases that were then suspended in the air or perhaps folded over architectural elements within a gallery space. From then on, Gilliam's art would continue to straddle the line between painting and sculpture.

Later works included quiltlike collages crafted from handmade paper that were then assembled into abstract dioramas, and paintings with 3-D metal forms attached at the edges. More recently Gilliam has delved into multimedia installations and computer-generated imagery. Through it all, he has been on a quest to explore the possibilities of color, shape, texture, scale and environment. He's also been a longtime teacher at assorted schools and universities, so expect a well-informed and incisive lecture when Gilliam talks about his life and work at PAFA.

Sam Gilliam artist talk, Thu., Aug. 14, 6 p.m., $7-$15, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St., 215-972-0522, pafa.org.