Object Details
Artist
L'Merchie Frazier, born Jacksonville, FL 1951
Sitter
Jr. Martin Luther King
Exhibition Label
The narrative that we've created in America doesn't contain enough of the everyday people . . . who are ordinary . . . but doing extraordinary things.
-- L'Merchie Frazier
L'Merchie Frazier documents history and recovers memory. She celebrates greatness and excavates the stories of long-forgotten individuals whose accomplishments offer models of strength to those living today. In her art and poetry, she provides answers to the questions: Whose voices are not being heard? Whose stories have been erased?
In From a Birmingham Jail, which is titled after one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most famous writings, Frazier chronicles episodes in the life of Dr. King using the format of a traditional African strip quilt. Clips from the memorial issue of Jet magazine intermingled with symbols and images of Central and West African masks celebrate King as, in her words, "an activist, peacemaker, and tireless leader of humanity."
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of L'Merchie Frazier in memory of Watty and Alberta Frazier and James and Merchie Dooley (grandparents)
Date
1996
Object number
2002.41
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Decorative Arts-Fiber
Quilt
Crafts
Medium
silk, photo transfer, gel medium, dyes, and beads
Dimensions
50 x 42 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (126.8 x 107.9 x 5.6 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Renwick Gallery
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
History\United States\Black History
History\United States\Civil Rights Movement
Object\written matter
Object\other\globe
Portrait male\bust
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_2002.41