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Catalog Data

Photograph by:
Kwame Brathwaite, American, 1938 - 2023  Search this
Subject of:
Sikolo Brathwaite, American  Search this
African Jazz-Arts Society and Studios, American, founded 1956  Search this
Medium:
pigment on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions:
H x W: 15 × 15 in. (38.1 × 38.1 cm)
Type:
portraits
inkjet prints
Place captured:
Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Date:
ca. 1968; printed 2020
Description:
A color photograph portrait of Sikolo Brathwaite wearing a beaded headpiece designed by Carolee Prince. The Grandassa model is depicted from the shoulders up, against an orange background. She is shown in profile, facing the left edge of the image, with her head turned slightly towards the viewer. Her shoulders are nude, and she is wearing an elaborate headpiece constructed from wired white, pink, orange, and black seed and pony beads. The base of the headpiece is formed from beaded, vertical, radiating spokes fitted to the crown of Brathwaite’s head. The vertical spokes are divided by three horizontal bands of white and black seed beads forming a square lattice. The lattice is divided into four differently colored sections. The band at the top of the crown terminates in a horizontal band of a single row of white seed beads. Below is a pink band formed from pink seed beads and two square, black beads bookending an orange pony bead. This band also terminates in a horizontal band of a single row of white seed beads. The third band is white seed bead spokes that terminate in a horizontal band of a single row of black seed beads that sits just behind Brathwaite’s forehead. Wrapped around the black horizontal band are vertical spokes of pink seed beads. Each pink spoke is capped with orange and white pony bead drops. Emerging from the crown of the headpiece is a funnel shaped lattice of wired, white and pink seed beads and black square beads that extends upwards and broadens into a freeform shaped canopy that extends over the top of Brathwaite’s head. The wavy rim of the canopy is a single wired band of black seed beads. The rim is wrapped with vertical spokes of pink seed beads, capped with orange and white pony bead drops. Brathwaite is also wearing a pair of large, matching, chandelier earrings that are primarily white seed beads with pink and orange seed bead accents and square black beads. There are no marks or inscriptions, front or back.
Topic:
African American  Search this
African diaspora  Search this
Associations and institutions  Search this
Black power  Search this
Fashion  Search this
Photography  Search this
Women  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number:
2021.26.5
Restrictions & Rights:
Courtesy of the Kwame Brathwaite Archive & Philip Martin Gallery, © Kwame Brathwaite
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Media Arts-Photography
Movement:
Black is Beautiful
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5cc464a06-5751-403d-8cf7-68139d226cca
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2021.26.5