Esperanza Spalding Selects

 

This exhibition was on display from June 09, 2017 to January 21, 2018.

Some objects in this exhibition may not be viewable on the website due to copyright or other usage restrictions, or because there is no digitized image for the object.

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This exhibit is about people, culture, and design evolving.

This exhibit is about people, culture, and design devolving.

This exhibit is about people, culture, and design simultaneously evolving and devolving.

All of the objects in this room reflect a juncture in design where values, forms, and relationships broke down and new iterations emerged.

I call it d+evolution.

In preparing this exhibit, I myself have gone through a d+evolution:
From bass-playing, singer–songwriter to curator and piano “re-imaginer.”

D+evolution happens in life as well as in design. THAT is what this exhibit is really about.
Each little undoing of what we know—or who we think we are—prompts a next step in our evolution toward what we become.

The design of who we are is constantly devolving and evolving—from environment to environment, idea to idea, style to style—simultaneously breaking down while building up what it means to be you, me, and we.
This exhibit is a celebration of d+evolution.

As you explore the gallery, you’ll be accompanied by four pieces of music d+evolved from one of the pieces of sheet music to your right.

Enjoy, and may your state of being forever be d+evolving!

–Esperanza Emily Spalding

  • Katagami, Maple Leaves
  • cut mulberry paper treated with persimmon tannin and silk thread.
  • Gift of Helen Snyder.
  • 1976-103-244
  •
  • Drawing (USA)
  • color pencil, graphite on cream wove paper.
  • Gift of the Estate of John De Cesare.
  • 1982-25-65
  • This object is part of the Textiles collection.
  • There are 4 images of this object.
  • This object is part of the Textiles collection.
  • There are 3 images of this object.
  • Ring (USA)
  • cast gold.
  • Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley Rollings.
  • 1992-15-1
  •
  • Gold Weight
  • cast bronze.
  • Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley Rollings.
  • 1992-15-2
  •
  • Thebes Stool
  • mahogany, leather.
  • Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisitions Fund, in memory....
  • 1993-78-2
  •
  • Tusker Earrings Earrings
  • metal bottle caps, bent wire, glass.
  • Gift of Cordelia Rose in honor of David McFadden.
  • 1995-150-1-a,b
  •
  • Pair of Earrings Earrings
  • soapstone, paint, bent wire, glass beads.
  • Gift of Cordelia Rose in honor of David McFadden.
  • 1995-150-2-a,b
  • Vitamin Store Necklace
  • woven metal wire, plastic, foil.
  • Museum purchase through bequest of Richard Greenleaf in memory of his mother....
  • 1999-26-1
  • Trans... Chair Armchair
  • wicker, iron, found objects (plastic, rubber).
  • Commissioned from the designers by Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
  • 2007-46-1
  •
  • Robe
  • alaari (waste silk), cotton.
  • Museum purchase through gift of Paul F. Walter and from General Acquisitions....
  • 2015-17-1
  • This object is part of the Textiles collection.
  • There are 2 images of this object.
  • Textile, Chan Chan
  • cotton.
  • Cowtan and Tout Larsen Archive Collection, Gift of Longhouse Reserve.
  • 2016-32-5
  • Sheet Music, Sugar Blues
  • lithograph on paper.
  • Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1630.2.W55 S84 1949.
  • 89.2016.11
  • Sheet Music, Solitude
  • lithograph on paper.
  • Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1366.E44 S65 1934.
  • 89.2016.13