With Michael Phelps firmly ensconced in the history books, Clay Center art curator Barbara Racker offers another Renaissance man's art as an example of the effect the Olympic Games have had on our culture.

Romare Bearden began to make collages in the 1960s as a way to define the experiences of American blacks. He created complex scenes that integrated old and new materials inspired by African-American stories, religion, jazz and blues music.

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Romare Bearden (American, 1914-1988), “The Olympics,� serigraph on paper, 85/200, 1976, Collection of the Clay Center, 1997 Gift of Kennedy Galleries, N.Y.

Bearden was born in Charlotte, N.C., and attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, completing his studies at New York University with a degree in education. His education was interrupted by stretches of time spent as a professional baseball player in the Negro Leagues.

The multitalented Bearden co-wrote the jazz classic "Sea Breeze," which was recorded by Billy Eckstine and Dizzy Gillespie. A veteran of World War II, Bearden returned to Europe in 1950 to study philosophy at the Sorbonne on the GI Bill.

He was the lead cartoonist and then art editor for the Eucleian Society monthly journal "The Medley." Bearden designed costumes and sets for prominent dance and theater companies, illustrated books by influential authors, and co-wrote books about black American art and culture.

- SARA BUSSE

Romare Bearden began to make collages in the 1960s as a way to define the experiences of American blacks. He created complex scenes that integrated old and new materials inspired by African-American stories, religion, jazz and blues music.

He was commissioned to create a poster for the 1972 Olympics. A serigraph "The Olympics" depicts athletes not identified by race, nationality or gender. Instead, Bearden presents them as representatives of the purpose of the Olympic Games.

Bearden was born in Charlotte, N.C., and attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, completing his studies at New York University with a degree in education. His education was interrupted by stretches of time spent as a professional baseball player in the Negro Leagues.

The multitalented Bearden co-wrote the jazz classic "Sea Breeze," which was recorded by Billy Eckstine and Dizzy Gillespie. A veteran of World War II, Bearden returned to Europe in 1950 to study philosophy at the Sorbonne on the GI Bill.

He was the lead cartoonist and then art editor for the Eucleian Society monthly journal "The Medley." Bearden designed costumes and sets for prominent dance and theater companies, illustrated books by influential authors, and co-wrote books about black American art and culture.

- SARA BUSSE