diff --git a/bqplot_image_gl/imagegl.py b/bqplot_image_gl/imagegl.py
index 5b58c7b..18132fb 100644
--- a/bqplot_image_gl/imagegl.py
+++ b/bqplot_image_gl/imagegl.py
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ class Contour(bqplot.Mark):
     contour_lines = (List(List(Array(None, allow_none=True)))
                      .tag(sync=True, **double_list_array_serialization))
     level = (Float() | List(Float())).tag(sync=True)
-    color = widgets.Color(None, allow_none=True).tag(sync=True)
+    label = (Unicode(None, allow_none=True) | List(Unicode())).tag(sync=True)
+    color = (widgets.Color(None, allow_none=True) |
+             List(widgets.Color(None, allow_none=True))).tag(sync=True)
     scales_metadata = Dict({
         'x': {'orientation': 'horizontal', 'dimension': 'x'},
         'y': {'orientation': 'vertical', 'dimension': 'y'},
diff --git a/examples/contour.ipynb b/examples/contour.ipynb
index feea3c8..a9a3090 100644
--- a/examples/contour.ipynb
+++ b/examples/contour.ipynb
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "cp = widgets.ColorPicker(value='purple')\n",
-    "widgets.jslink((cp, 'value'), (contour, 'color'))\n",
+    "widgets.jsdlink((cp, 'value'), (contour, 'color'))\n",
     "cp"
    ]
   },
@@ -137,6 +137,16 @@
     "contour.level = [150, 180]"
    ]
   },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "# but also color\n",
+    "contour.color = ['red', 'green']"
+   ]
+  },
   {
    "cell_type": "code",
    "execution_count": null,
@@ -234,7 +244,7 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "x, y = np.ogrid[-np.pi:np.pi:1000j, -np.pi:np.pi:1000j]\n",
+    "x, y = np.ogrid[-np.pi:np.pi:256j, -np.pi:np.pi:256j]\n",
     "values = np.sin(np.exp((np.sin(x)**3 + np.cos(y)**2)))"
    ]
   },
@@ -287,7 +297,9 @@
    "execution_count": null,
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
-   "source": []
+   "source": [
+    "contour_precomputed.label = ['min', 'max']"
+   ]
   }
  ],
  "metadata": {
diff --git a/js/lib/contour.js b/js/lib/contour.js
index 06d9ec5..ef5458c 100644
--- a/js/lib/contour.js
+++ b/js/lib/contour.js
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class ContourModel extends bqplot.MarkModel {
 class ContourView extends bqplot.Mark {
     create_listeners() {
         super.create_listeners();
-        this.listenTo(this.model, "change:label_steps", () => {
+        this.listenTo(this.model, "change:label_steps change:label", () => {
             this.updateLabels()
         })
         this.listenTo(this.parent, "margin_updated", () => {
@@ -114,8 +114,11 @@ class ContourView extends bqplot.Mark {
         this.d3label_group.selectAll("text").attr("fill", color)
     }
     getColor(threshold, index) {
-        if(this.model.get('color'))
-            return this.model.get('color');
+        let color = this.model.get('color')
+        if(color) {
+            const color_array = Array.isArray(color) ? color : [color];
+            return color_array[index % color_array.length];
+        }
         const model = this.model;
         var colors = this.scales.image.model.color_range;
         var color_scale = d3.scaleLinear()
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@ class ContourView extends bqplot.Mark {
         const delta = max - min;
         // a good default color is one that is 50% off from the value of the colormap
         const level_plus_50_percent = ((threshold - min) + delta / 2) % delta + min;
-        const color = color_scale(level_plus_50_percent);
+        color = color_scale(level_plus_50_percent);
         return color;
     }
     createPath(index) {
@@ -196,8 +199,14 @@ class ContourView extends bqplot.Mark {
 
         this.model.contours.forEach((contour, index) => {
             const color = this.getColor(model.thresholds[index], index);
-            const label = String(model.thresholds[index]);
-                // http://wiki.geojson.org/GeoJSON_draft_version_6#MultiPolygon
+            let label = this.model.get('label')
+            if(label) {
+                const label_array = Array.isArray(label) ? label : [label];
+                label = label_array[index % label_array.length];
+            } else {
+                label = String(model.thresholds[index]);
+            }
+            // http://wiki.geojson.org/GeoJSON_draft_version_6#MultiPolygon
             const is_polygon = contour.type == 'MultiPolygon';
             contour.coordinates.forEach(polygon => {
                 // a MultiPolygon is a list of rings