Empowerment | Spencer Museum of Art

Spencer Museum of Art

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Exhibition

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Empowerment

Susan Earle, curator
Celka Straughn, curator
Kristina Walker, curator
Angela Watts, curator

mobile app exhibition

Empowerment explores ways that art can speak to, question, and subvert various forms of social, institutional, and individual power.

Works of art

簪 kanzashi (hair ornament) — 簪 kanzashi (hair ornament), late 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

men's comb, unrecorded Chokwe artist — unrecorded Chokwe artist

men's comb, late 1800s–1914

hair pick with Black fist, unrecorded Hawazma artist — unrecorded Hawazma artist

hair pick with Black fist, circa 1979

beaded snood with medallion, Ada Bosin — Ada Bosin

beaded snood with medallion, 1959

Haunted by the Ghosts of Our Own Making, Hollis Sigler — Hollis Sigler

Haunted by the Ghosts of Our Own Making, 1995

Mother Earth, David V. Lee — David V. Lee

Mother Earth, late 1900s

Seascape (Winter Sea Prose), Chizuko Yoshida — Chizuko Yoshida

Seascape (Winter Sea Prose), 1951

picture made from recycled materials, Michael Mxakaza — Michael Mxakaza

picture made from recycled materials, 2005

End of Day, Max H. Gerbier — Max H. Gerbier

End of Day, circa 1970

woven food cover, unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist — unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist

woven food cover, 1982

basket, unrecorded Achomawi, Northern Maidu, or Shasta artist — unrecorded Achomawi, Northern Maidu, or Shasta artist

basket, late 1800s–early 1900s

Cause de la pollution (The Cause of Pollution), Somi — Somi

Cause de la pollution (The Cause of Pollution), 2013

La Toilette, Richard Emile Miller — Richard Emile Miller

La Toilette, circa 1910

Green and Gold, Thomas Wilmer Dewing — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

Green and Gold, circa 1910

Maria Maddalena, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Studio of Domenico and Valore Casini — Studio of Domenico and Valore Casini

Maria Maddalena, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, 1610–1628

La Pia de' Tolomei, Dante Gabriel Rossetti — Dante Gabriel Rossetti

La Pia de' Tolomei, 1868–1880

Portrait of Charlotte Sullivan, Stephens — Stephens

Portrait of Charlotte Sullivan, 1940–1975

bowl, Hisi Quotskuyva Nampeyo — Hisi Quotskuyva Nampeyo

bowl, late 1900s

Marie Laveau, Ulrick Jean-Pierre — Ulrick Jean-Pierre

Marie Laveau, 2018

Portrait of Chantelle Keshaye Pahtayken & Shay Pahtayken, Plains Cree, Ryan RedCorn — Ryan RedCorn

Portrait of Chantelle Keshaye Pahtayken & Shay Pahtayken, Plains Cree, 2019

Le Parc, Jeanne Rij-Rousseau — Jeanne Rij-Rousseau

Le Parc, 1915

jar, Nampeyo of Hano — Nampeyo of Hano

jar, early 1900s

mother and child figure, Teresita Romero — Teresita Romero

mother and child figure, late 1900s–1979

skeleton with guitar — Teresita Romero

skeleton with guitar, 1985–1995

skeleton with clarinet — Teresita Romero

skeleton with clarinet, 1985–1995

skeleton with guitar — Teresita Romero

skeleton with guitar, 1985–1995

skeleton with accordion — Teresita Romero

skeleton with accordion, 1985–1995

storyteller figure, Margaret Trujillo — Margaret Trujillo

storyteller figure, circa 1979

pot, Fannie Nampeyo — Fannie Nampeyo

pot, 1950s

udu (pot-drum), unrecorded Igbo artist — unrecorded Igbo artist

udu (pot-drum), 1925–1990

Diaspora, Tom Knechtel — Tom Knechtel

Diaspora, 1987

St. Francis of Adelaide, Kehinde Wiley; Cerealart Projects LLC — Kehinde Wiley; Cerealart Projects LLC

St. Francis of Adelaide, 2006

Erzuli as Piper, Frantz Beauvoir — Frantz Beauvoir

Erzuli as Piper, 1974

Colère (Anger), Salnave Philippe-Auguste — Salnave Philippe-Auguste

Colère (Anger), 1974

mother and children, Edith Stephane — Edith Stephane

mother and children, circa 1970

Course au pouvoir (Race for Power), Moke Fils — Moke Fils

Course au pouvoir (Race for Power), 2013

coyote storyteller figure, Felicia Fragua Curley — Felicia Fragua Curley

coyote storyteller figure, late 1900s

olla with flute player designs, June Pino Cheromiah — June Pino Cheromiah

olla with flute player designs, circa 1990s

male storyteller figure, Frances Suina — Frances Suina

male storyteller figure, circa 1970s

電音禪境 (Zen Temple of Techno), Du Kun — Du Kun

電音禪境 (Zen Temple of Techno), 2017

Night Bloom, Marjorie Schick — Marjorie Schick

Night Bloom, 2003

jar with migration pattern, Rachel Namingha Nampeyo — Rachel Namingha Nampeyo

jar with migration pattern, mid-late 1900s

seed jar, Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo — Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo

seed jar, mid-late 1900s

Near Sundown, Grant Wood — Grant Wood

Near Sundown, 1933

The Deluge, David Teniers II — David Teniers II

The Deluge, circa 1655

hairpin (kanzashi) with turtle — David Teniers II

hairpin (kanzashi) with turtle, Edo period (1600–1868)

pib-be-gwun (flute), Richard Fool Bull — Richard Fool Bull

pib-be-gwun (flute), circa 1971

purification whistle, Gilbert Minthorn — Gilbert Minthorn

purification whistle, mid 1900s

Hamatsa whistle (metses), Fah Ambers — Fah Ambers

Hamatsa whistle (metses), circa 1976

fife — Fah Ambers

fife, circa 1860

ceramic flute, Reliable Brothers — Reliable Brothers

ceramic flute, mid 1900s

penny whistle, The Clarke Tinwhistle Company — The Clarke Tinwhistle Company

penny whistle, mid 1900s

alto recorder, Johannes Adler — Johannes Adler

alto recorder, mid 1900s

flute in C, George Cloos — George Cloos

flute in C, late 1800s

piccolo in D — George Cloos

piccolo in D, mid 1800s

fluier (flute) — George Cloos

fluier (flute), late 1800s–1994

dvojnice (shepherd's flute) — George Cloos

dvojnice (shepherd's flute), circa 1963

sylfa floyte (flute) — George Cloos

sylfa floyte (flute), mid-late 1900s

tarka — George Cloos

tarka, circa 1969

rondador (flute) — George Cloos

rondador (flute), circa 1970

nay — George Cloos

nay, mid 1900s

ohe hano ihu, unrecorded Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) artist — unrecorded Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) artist

ohe hano ihu, circa 1970

didgeridoo, unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist — unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist

didgeridoo, mid-late 1900s

crop blessing flute, unrecorded Abelam artist — unrecorded Abelam artist

crop blessing flute, mid 1900s

nyele (horn), unrecorded Tonga artist — unrecorded Tonga artist

nyele (horn), early-mid 1900s

walking stick flute — unrecorded Tonga artist

walking stick flute, early-mid 1900s

flute — unrecorded Tonga artist

flute, late 1800s–1987

flute — unrecorded Tonga artist

flute, 1960s

Father Sky, David V. Lee — David V. Lee

Father Sky, late 1900s

Winter Flight, Kay WalkingStick — Kay WalkingStick

Winter Flight, 1988–1989

bowl, Elva Nampeyo — Elva Nampeyo

bowl, 1930

Forge, Robert Carston Arneson — Robert Carston Arneson

Forge, 1984

Pan of Rohallion, Frederick William MacMonnies — Frederick William MacMonnies

Pan of Rohallion, cast 1894, modeled 1890

sansa (thumb piano), unrecorded Chokwe artist — unrecorded Chokwe artist

sansa (thumb piano), late 1800s–1914

oba (king) figure, unrecorded Bini artist — unrecorded Bini artist

oba (king) figure, mid-late 1900s

Calypso Contemplating the Departure of Ulysses, Angelica Kauffman — Angelica Kauffman

Calypso Contemplating the Departure of Ulysses, 1775–1778

Arena, Elaine de Kooning — Elaine de Kooning

Arena, 1959

The Inspiration of the Prophet Isaiah, Benjamin West — Benjamin West

The Inspiration of the Prophet Isaiah, 1782

Portrait of a Young Boy, Jean-Honoré Fragonard — Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Portrait of a Young Boy, circa 1782

Portrait of Mrs. Daniel Sargent Curtis, John Singer Sargent — John Singer Sargent

Portrait of Mrs. Daniel Sargent Curtis, 1882

Prairie Steelscape, Arlie Regier — Arlie Regier

Prairie Steelscape, 1995

Sansei Woman, Roger Shimomura — Roger Shimomura

Sansei Woman, 1980

self-portraits, Otto Dix — Otto Dix

self-portraits, 1914

Yei rug, unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist — unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist

Yei rug, 1940s–1950s

slompret (trumpet) with mouthpiece — unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist

slompret (trumpet) with mouthpiece, 1975–1985

flute — unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist

flute, 1900s

cross flute — unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist

cross flute, circa 1961

dizi (flute) — unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist

dizi (flute), circa 1970

shakuhachi (flute) — unrecorded Diné (Navajo) artist

shakuhachi (flute), late 1800s–1977

bowl, Nampeyo of Hano; Annie Healing Nampeyo (Queuchawa) — Nampeyo of Hano; Annie Healing Nampeyo (Queuchawa)

bowl, circa 1915–1920

Asefi (enough daughters), Bernard Séjourné — Bernard Séjourné

Asefi (enough daughters), 1975

Les femmes libres, or Les Fioti Fioti (Women at Liberty, or Free Women), Alfi-Alfa — Alfi-Alfa

Les femmes libres, or Les Fioti Fioti (Women at Liberty, or Free Women), 2013

untitled (dressmakers form and skull), Beatrice Mandelman — Beatrice Mandelman

untitled (dressmakers form and skull), 1950s

The Ballad of the Jealous Lover of Lone Green Valley, Thomas Hart Benton — Thomas Hart Benton

The Ballad of the Jealous Lover of Lone Green Valley, 1934

Shepherd, Ivan Meštrović — Ivan Meštrović

Shepherd, 1908–1911

The Muse of Music — Ivan Meštrović

The Muse of Music, early-mid 1800s

Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini — Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini

Achilles Discovered with the Daughters of Lycomedes, early 1700s

micromosaic of an amphora with flowers — Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini

micromosaic of an amphora with flowers, 1800s

untitled (sounding sculpture), Harry Bertoia — Harry Bertoia

untitled (sounding sculpture), circa 1968

Hilda and Studio Light, Ruth Harris Bohan — Ruth Harris Bohan

Hilda and Studio Light, 1935

Chaotic Lip, Elizabeth Murray — Elizabeth Murray

Chaotic Lip, 1986

Portrait of Hugh Samson, Augusta Savage — Augusta Savage

Portrait of Hugh Samson, circa 1939–1940

Caffeine, Joyce J. Scott — Joyce J. Scott

Caffeine, 1994–1999

Alpha-Omega: Water Tower #5, Richard Mawdsley — Richard Mawdsley

Alpha-Omega: Water Tower #5, 1995–1999

Untitled #751 (Craig's Piece), Petah Coyne — Petah Coyne

Untitled #751 (Craig's Piece), 1992–1993

Hanging in the Balance, Wendell Castle — Wendell Castle

Hanging in the Balance, 2002

Frieze for a Music Room, Albert Bloch — Albert Bloch

Frieze for a Music Room, 1915

untitled (scenes of life), Clementine Hunter — Clementine Hunter

untitled (scenes of life), circa 1958

commemorative head of an Iyoba (Queen Mother), unrecorded Bini artist — unrecorded Bini artist

commemorative head of an Iyoba (Queen Mother), late 1800s–1975

totem pole, Luke Watson — Luke Watson

totem pole, 1937

Seventh Decade Garden IX-X, Louise Nevelson — Louise Nevelson

Seventh Decade Garden IX-X, 1971

miniature painting of Krishna with milkmaids — Louise Nevelson

miniature painting of Krishna with milkmaids, early 1900s

serpent shaped triple vertical whistle, Jorge Daher Guerra — Jorge Daher Guerra

serpent shaped triple vertical whistle, 1950–1971

quena, Juan Palomino — Juan Palomino

quena, mid-late 1900s

#28 - That the revelation of incertitude made (by God) to the Intercessor (the Prophet) be my shield against persecution and harm., Yelimane Fall — Yelimane Fall

#28 - That the revelation of incertitude made (by God) to the Intercessor (the Prophet) be my shield against persecution and harm., 2003–2004

basket, unrecorded Akimel O'odham (Pima) artist — unrecorded Akimel O'odham (Pima) artist

basket, late 1800s–early 1900s

basket, unrecorded Tohono O'odham (Papago) artist — unrecorded Tohono O'odham (Papago) artist

basket, mid 1900s

berry basket, unrecorded Musqueam artist — unrecorded Musqueam artist

berry basket, late 1800s–early 1900s

Child Taken by Mermaid, Melania Mazinyani — Melania Mazinyani

Child Taken by Mermaid, 1988–1996

French Basket quilt, or Ivory Basket quilt, Rose Frances Good Kretsinger — Rose Frances Good Kretsinger

French Basket quilt, or Ivory Basket quilt, 1928

cloth with fish design — Rose Frances Good Kretsinger

cloth with fish design, 1981

standing bearded pleurant or prophet — Rose Frances Good Kretsinger

standing bearded pleurant or prophet, circa 1390–1400

lobed cup with floral engravings, Andreas Michel — Andreas Michel

lobed cup with floral engravings, circa 1620

布団じ futonji (bed cover) — Andreas Michel

布団じ futonji (bed cover), early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)

chasse reliquary — Andreas Michel

chasse reliquary, mid 1200s

Events

May 22, 2025

Talk

Art Provenance

10:15–11:00AM