Purple star costume designed by Sun Ra and worn by Arkestra members

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Object Details

Created by

Sun Ra, American, 1914 - 1993

Used by

The Sun Ra Arkestra, American

Description

A poncho-style stage costume designed by Sun Ra. Poncho is comprised of several different cuts of synthetic fabrics stitched together with decorative fabric patches sewed on top. The design depicts shooting stars in sequined fabric trailed by swathes of shiny, lamé-evoking fabric on a rich purple background fabric. Collar, hem, and lining are a pink-purple fabric. One section of the purple fabric has detached along a seam line, approximately five inches long, under the star at proper right.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Date

early 1990s

Object number

2021.52.2

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

ponchos

Medium

synthetic fiber and sequin

Dimensions

H x W x D (flat): 41 × 59 1/2 × 1/8 in. (104.1 × 151.1 × 0.3 cm)

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing - Costume

Movement

Afrofuturism

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Jazz (Music)

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55fc5f846-a8a4-4477-944f-aae8b89237dd

Record ID

nmaahc_2021.52.2