Esperanza Spalding Selects
This exhibition started on June 09, 2017 and is on display until January 07, 2018.
There were 45 objects in this exhibition but right now we can only show you 39 of them. Some objects may not be viewable because they were on loan; this might be due to issues involving image rights or simply because there is no digitized image for the objects.
This exhibition has been divided in to the following sections:
See all the exhibitions.
View and print exhibition labels.
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
- Tuskers Pair Of Earrings, 1993
- painted and incised soapstone, bent wire, glass beads.
- Gift of Cordelia Rose in honor of David McFadden.
- 1995-150-2-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Document Case With Lid (Kenya), early 20th century
- brass, copper.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1995-37-10-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Tusker Pair Of Earrings, 1974
- flattened metal, bent wire, glass.
- Gift of Cordelia Rose in honor of David McFadden.
- 1995-150-1-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Necklace (Kenya), 1960–70
- copper coins, beaten aluminum wire, glass beads.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1995-37-9
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Sheet Music, Quit Cryin’ the Blues: Fox-Trot, ca. 1931
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1356.L49 Q5 1931.
- 89.2016.5
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Book, God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse, 1927
- book, page 20b.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, PS3519.O2625 G6.
- 89.2016.4
- There are 10 images of this object.
- Journal, Wendingen: maandblad voor bouwen en sieren, Vol. 9, No. 5, 1928
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, N5 .W469.
- 89.2016.3
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Book, Les choses de Paul Poiret (Paul Poiret's Things), 1911
- book with lithographic plates.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, GT513 .L59 1911.
- 89.2016.2
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Sheet Music, Love Songs of the Nile, ca. 1933
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1508.B76 L69 1933.
- 89.2016.15
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Sheet Music, Indianola, ca. 1918
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1630.2.H46 I53 1918.
- 89.2016.14
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Sheet Music, Solitude, ca. 1934
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1366.E44 S65 1934.
- 89.2016.13
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Sheet Music, It Happened in Monterey, for the Motion Picture King of Jazz,...
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1630.2.W39 I8 1930.
- 89.2016.12
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Sheet Music, Sugar Blues, 1949
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, M1630.2.W55 S84 1949.
- 89.2016.11
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Book, Wendingen: maandblad voor bouwen en sieren, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1921
- lithograph on paper.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, N5 .W469.
- 89.2016.10
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Book, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, 1838–1844
- book with lithographic plates, volume 1, p. 129.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries, Cooper Hewitt, E77 .M135 1838.
- 89.2016.1
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Textile, Fan, 1985
- 100% cotton.
- Gift of Vlisco.
- 2015-1-8
- Thebes Stool, ca. 1884
- mahogany, leather.
- Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisitions Fund, in memory....
- 1993-78-2
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Record Cover, The Suites for Orchestra by J.S. Bach, 1952
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Susan Lustig Peck.
- 2001-29-77
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Book Cover, Jazz Cleopatra, 1989
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Steven Heller.
- 1996-74-104
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Purse (kin-chaku) With Pendant (netsuke) And Cord Fastener (Netherlands...
- stamped, silvered, and varnished dutch leather, carved ivory, enamel and brass.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1931-48-73
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Study 140d, "The Magic Fire-Scene," from Die Walküre by Richard...
- color pencil, graphite on cream wove paper.
- 1982-25-65
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Sample Book Page, Mural Scrolls, 1948
- screen printed on canvas.
- Gift of Katzenbach and Warren, Inc..
- 1953-61-1-2
- This object was made by Katzenbach and Warren, Inc..
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- There are 10 images of this object.
- Sample Book Page, Mural Scrolls, 1948
- screen printed on canvas.
- Gift of Katzenbach and Warren, Inc..
- 1953-61-1-4
- This object was made by Katzenbach and Warren, Inc. and Joan Miró.
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- There are 10 images of this object.
- Kaku square plate, medium Plate, 2008
- reed, bamboo, bagasse pulp.
- Gift of WASARA Co. Ltd..
- 2011-12-6
- This object was made by WASARA Co. Ltd..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Pelete Bite Wrapper, Pelete Bite, 1930s
- cotton.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 1988-56-1
- Textile, Chan Chan, 1964
- cotton.
- Cowtan and Tout Larsen Archive Collection, Gift of Longhouse Reserve.
- 2016-32-5
- This object was made by Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated and Larsen Design Studio.
- This object is part of the Textiles collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Trans... Armchair, 2007
- wicker, iron, found objects (plastic, rubber).
- Commissioned from the designers by Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
- 2007-46-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 16 images of this object.
- Sidewall, Harlem Toile de Jouy, 2006
- screen printed on paper.
- Gift of Studio Printworks.
- 2007-42-1
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- There are 5 images of this object.
- Poster, Voices of East Harlem/Delaney Bonnie and Friends, 1970
- offset lithograph on white wove paper.
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie J. Schreyer.
- 1979-34-18
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Mussel Shell Matchsafe, late 19th century
- plated brass.
- Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
- 1978-146-335
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Vitamin Store Necklace, ca. 1990
- woven metal wire, plastic, foil.
- Museum purchase through bequest of Richard Greenleaf in memory of his mother....
- 1999-26-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 7 images of this object.
- Katagami, Maple Leaves, late 19th–early 20th century
- cut mulberry paper treated with persimmon tannin and silk thread.
- Gift of Helen Snyder.
- 1976-103-244
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- This object is no longer on display as part of this exhibition.
- WASARA Tableware Bowl, 2008
- reed, bamboo, bagasse pulp.
- Gift of WASARA Co. Ltd..
- 2011-12-21
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Robe, ca. 1900
- silk, cotton.
- Museum purchase through gift of Paul F. Walter and from General Acquisitions....
- 2015-17-1
- Poster, Spitzen der Wiener Werkstätte (Wiener Werkstätte Lacework), ca. 1919
- lithograph on off-white paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of George A. Hearn.
- 2002-19-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
