Radcliffe Bailey
Black and Tan
1997
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New Jersey-born Atlanta artist Radcliffe Bailey makes large
mixed-medium compositions on wood or on paper, mixing
exuberant brushstrokes with collage elements, including
photos of family members and friends. These dazzling works
touch upon universal themes while remaining deeply personal.
They frequently explore the relationship between painting and
music. The large wall-hung construction called Mound Magician
is a lyrical work in the shape of a fan. Small rectangular
patches of yellow, red and black cause the eye to skip across
the surface, which is centered by a medallion bearing the
words "Mound Magician."
My favorites are the relief paintings shaped like musical
instruments. Mingus is a large (109 inches tall) construction in
the form of a bass fiddle. Surprisingly, the work's shape
enhances rather than distracts from the lively interplay of small,
green rectangle shapes, yellow lines and collage elements that
bounce on the its bright blue ground. The centerpiece of the
show is Black and Tan, a 106-inch-tall work resembling a
grand piano hung on the wall. This humorous and witty
composition is covered with brilliant patches of orange, yellow
and black paint, as well as photocollage. Small light bulbs flicker
at the top of the piece where the keyboard should be. This
work, and the show as a whole, is exhilarating music for the
eye.
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