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While traveling through Holland in 2007, I had the pleasure of being introduced to the painter Sam Middleton. Little did I know that at that mo- ment, I was speaking to one of the most respected abstract painters working in Europe. Sam Mid- dleton is what you might call a man of the world. Born and raised in Harlem during the Harlem Re- naissance, he was surrounded by some of the most progressive creators of art, literature and music of the 20th century. Growing up he also realized that he was surrounded by racial segregation policies that would limit his potential as a human being.
Festivities 1986
So what does one do when confronted with a possibly insurmountable obstacle? You create a clever solution! In Sam’s case he obtained the ultimate walking papers by enlisting in the Mer- chant Marines. As an underage soldier, he set off on a voyage that would lead him to discover many parts of the world. As they say, timing is everything and upon returning to New York dur- ing the 1950’s, Be-Bop Jazz was the sound of the city and Abstract Expressionism was the defiant splash in the face. All of those ingredients and his new travel experiences inevitably expanded his horizons and inspired him to become an artist.