John Outterbridge, Artist
No Time for Jivin', from the Containment Series
, 1969
Medium
Mixed media
Dimensions
56 x 60 in. (142.2 x 152.4 cm)
Credit Line
Mills College Art Museum Collection, Purchased with funds from the Susan L. Mills Fund. Photo by Ed Glendinning
Outterbridge's Containment Series grew out of an interest in containment—both literal and theoretical—and a desire to break through the societal and institutional structures that reinforce it. His physical deconstruction of the canvas was a projection of his desire to break down the theoretical limitations of these structures. Outterbridge was an assemblage artist, arts administrator, and important member of the black community in Watts and Compton. He also served as director of the Watts Towers Arts Center from 1975 to 1990.