Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Subject of:
Marlon Riggs, American, 1957 - 1994  Search this
Essex Hemphill, American, 1957 - 1995  Search this
Photograph by:
Dr. Ron Simmons, American, 1950 - 2020  Search this
Designed by:
Gary Rorick  Search this
Medium:
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions:
H x W: 24 × 18 1/16 in. (61 × 45.9 cm)
Type:
posters
Place used:
United States, North and Central America
Date:
1989
Description:
A poster for the experimental video Tongues Untied by Marlon Riggs. The poster features a large black and white photograph of Marlon Riggs (left) and Essex Hemphill (right). Both Riggs and Hemphill are shirtless. Riggs stands in front of Hemphill and Hemphill's right arm reaches to the front of Riggs' chest. There is a wall with a design on it in the background. The lower right of the poster contains a gray text box with red type that reads: [BLACK / MEN / LOVING / BLACK / MEN]. The title and credits are found below the red text in gray and red type and reads: [TONGUES / UNTIED / by MARLON RIGGS / featuring ESSEX HEMPHILL]. White text below the text box reads: [Funded in part by Film Arts Foundation and Western States Regional NEA Fellowship]. On the bottom left of the poster, in white, horizontal type, are additional credits that read: [Poster design Gary Rorick Photo Ron Simmons]. Both men also signed their signatures, in blue ink, to the right of their heads on the front of the poster. The back of the poster is blank white. A piece of paper with black type is taped to the bottom left corner reading [Mr. Jack Vincent/223 Orange St/Oakland CA 94610-4134] in black ink, with [DONATED BY] handwritten in black ink above the typed portion, and [3/2014] in the bottom right of the sticker, handwritten in black ink.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Film  Search this
Gender  Search this
Identity  Search this
LGBTQ  Search this
Men  Search this
Sexuality  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jack Vincent in memory of Marlon Riggs
Object number:
2014.169.1.2
Restrictions & Rights:
© Signifyin' Works
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5dff70c5d-841f-46dc-bb46-6061b10a789e
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2014.169.1.2