The life and artistry of Sam Middleton truly embody the notion of global arts. As a young man Middleton embarked on a journey as a merchant marine crewman that led him virtually around the world. In 1962, Middleton decided to settle in Amsterdam, where, after establishing an international reputation as an artist, he came to be considered a Dutch painter. Middleton's collages, paintings, and lithographs use the universal language of abstraction, a tool that has bridged cultural gaps worldwide since the beginning of the century. Middleton's 1972 watercolor Untitled emerges from an era when many African American painters were fully invested in the abstract movement. Deeply inspired by jazz music, Middleton utilized improvisational brush strokes and splashes of color in his melodic compositions.  A. L. C.