It’s Darker in the Valley

Copied Sam Richardson, It's Darker in the Valley, 1969, mixed media: plastic, wood, rubber, acrylic and paperboard, 8 1⁄8 x 12 x 11 7⁄8 in. (20.5 x 30.4 x 30.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Wende and Geoffrey Gates, 1976.138

Artwork Details

Title
It’s Darker in the Valley
Artist
Date
1969
Location
Dimensions
8 1⁄8 x 12 x 11 7⁄8 in. (20.5 x 30.4 x 30.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Wende and Geoffrey Gates
Mediums
Mediums Description
mixed media: plastic, wood, rubber, acrylic and paperboard
Classifications
Keywords
  • Abstract
  • Landscape — beach
  • Waterscape — coast
Object Number
1976.138
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1976.138

Artwork Description

It's Darker in the Valley is composed of three separate layers of plastic to represent air, water, and land. Sam Richardson built the land using polyurethane foam, which he sanded to the desired shape. The clear blue water was then cast from resin to fit perfectly with the curves of the land's surface. He applied delicate layers of color to the contours of this piece to give the illusion of natural light and shadow.