Shepherd Park in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sam Gilliam

Library Stars / Library Obelisk, 2000

— Painted Copper, 19 5/8 × 5 5/8 ft., 2 in. —

Sam Gilliam Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 14, 2021

1. Sam Gilliam Marker

Inscription. Sam Gilliam (b. 1933) is a color field painter and lyrical abstractionist artist. Gilliam, an African American, is associated with the Washington Color School and is recognized as the first artist to introduce the idea of a painted canvas hanging without stretcher bars (c. 1965), a major contribution to the Color Field School.

Erected 2000 by DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1965.

Location. 38° 58.822′ N, 77° 1.612′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Shepherd Park. Marker is on Georgia Avenue Northwest (U.S. 29) 0.1 miles north of Geranium Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker and artwork hang on the Juanita E. Thornton Shepherd Park Branch Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7420 Georgia Ave NW, Washington DC 20012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Marvin Caplan 1919 - 2000 (approx. 0.2 miles away); To Count So High (Beacon), 2017 (approx. ¼ mile away); William L. Chaplin Arrested! (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); The Civil War in Silver Spring (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); The Metropolitan Branch & Takoma Park

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(approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); Jesup Blair House (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); Living in Takoma Park (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); Walt Penney Field (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 14, 2021

2. Sam Gilliam Marker

<i>From a Model to a Rainbow</i>, 2011 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 10, 2022

3. From a Model to a Rainbow, 2011

Another Sam Gilliam piece can be seen nearby below the Metrorail bridge at Takoma along Cedar Street Northwest near the DC-Maryland Border.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 10, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.