Manufactured by

Comatex, S.A., Malian, founded 1994

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 45 1/4 × 73 in. (114.9 × 185.4 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 3/16 in. (64 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Ségou, Région de Ségou, Mali, West Africa, Africa

Place collected

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2008

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Comatex, S.A. featuring Barack Obama and his campaign slogan "Yes We Can." The fabric has a very pale blue ground with a background design of a continuous meandering stylized leafy vine in black outlined in light brown. Several designs are printed at intervals scattered over the background. The largest is an oval with a blue floral vine frame containing a photographic portrait of Barack Obama. Below the oval frame is a banner containing black text reading "BARACK OBAMA". A banner with black text reading "44th PRESIDENT / OF THE UNITED STATES" is printed at either side of the oval portrait frame. To the top right of the oval frame is a black outlined rectangle with black text reading "YES WE CAN". To the top left and bottom right are American flags with black poles. The manufacturer's name "COMATEX SA" is printed at repeating intervals along both selvedges.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.1

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

GTP, Ghanian, founded 1966

Printed by

Peters, Shani, American, born 1981

Subject of

Cousins, Aisha, American

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 46 7/8 × 68 1/8 in. (119 × 173 cm)

H x W (Vertical Repeat): 6 5/16 in. (16 cm)

H x W (Horizontal Repeat): 11 13/16 in. (30 cm)

H x W (Printed Portrait): 10 1/2 × 7 11/16 in. (26.7 × 19.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place printed

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place made

Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2011

Description

Length of printed textile by GTP (Ghana Textiles Printing Company) customized with added printed graphic portraits of Barack Obama. The fabric has a large scale stylized floral design of the same flower printed in repeating columns. The flowers are wider at the middle with feathery blue petals surrounding a chartreuse and orange center and burgundy and white dots in the very middle. The flowers are placed in columns with the top sections nearly touching, but not quite. In the next column, the flowers are placed so that the wider middle sections are in the space created by the thinner top and bottom sections of the surrounding columns. There is a deep burgundy solid ground behind the flowers. An oval-framed portrait of Barack Obama is custom printed in black and white onto the manufactured printed fabric. Text inside the frame reads "BLACK PRESIDENT'S DAY FEBRUARY 21, 2011 / BARACK OBAMA 44TH PRESIDENT OF TEH U.S.A." The added prints are placed on the fabric in a scattered manner. Manufacturer's information is printed on both selvedges that reads in repetition "GTP GUARANTEED REAL WAX PRINTED IN GHANA 16785".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.10

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Woodin, Ghanian, founded 1985

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 47 5/8 × 71 5/8 in. (121 × 182 cm)

Vertical Repeat: 24 in. (61 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 24 13/16 in. (63 cm)

Type

textiles

Place made

Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Woodin in black featuring Barack Obama campaign slogan "Yes We Can." The fabric has a background printed design of small black triangles arranged with their points away from each other, creating diamond with a white horizontal strip in the middle and white diamond shapes around the black triangles. The white diamonds have a pale lavender dot printed at the center. A black silhouette of the continent of Africa is printed repeatedly in a scattered design over the background. The silhouettes contain three (3) different motifs in white text, arranged to alternate on the silhouettes as placed on the fabric. One motif is the stylized "W" logo of the printer, Woodin, done in white in the left corner over West Africa. The second motif has a large white dot with the word "GHANA" to the right of the dot, placed along the Guinea coast corresponding to the geographic location of the country of Ghana. The third motif has the words of the Obama campaign slogan "yes / WE / CAN" printed across the continent. Manufacturer's information is printed along the bottom selvedge in repetition that reads "Noir et Blanc de woodin GHANA".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.11

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

GTP, Ghanian, founded 1966

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

First Lady Michelle Obama, American, born 1964

President Mills, John Evans Fiifi Atta, Ghanian, 1944 - 2012

First Lady Mills, Ernestina Naadu, Ghanian

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 47 13/16 × 72 1/16 in. (121.5 × 183 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by GTP (Ghana Textile Production) featuring portraits of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Ghanian President John Mills, and Ghanian First Lady Naadu Mills. The fabric has a cream ground with an allover background design of a multi-colored lattice with a small five-pointed star where the lattice work crosses. A United States and Ghana flag with crossed poles are placed between the oval portraits of the political figures over the lattice work. The portraits are in four (4) rows, with the top and third rows having alternating portraits of the Obamas and the second and bottom rows having alternating portraits of the Mills. The portraits are also arranged so that a Michelle portrait is below a Barack portrait in the top row, and vice versa. The oval frames containing Obama portraits are double red lines with cream interiors and blue stars and text, and a blue banner around the bottom half outside the double lines. The oval frames containing Mills portraits are double red lines with yellow interiors and black stars and text, and a green banner around the bottom half outside the double lines. The text inside the double lines has the name of the person at the bottom center with three (3) five-pointed stars on each side. Text inside the banners underneath the frames contains the title of each figure: "PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"; "FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERA"; "PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA"; "FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA". The portraits appear to be drawings from photographs printed in black onto the cream ground. Printed along the top and bottom is the same border with three (3) stripes in red, yellow, and green and a cream interior. Black five-pointed stars are printed on top of the lined borders. Inside the border are a United States and a Ghanian flag with crossed poles printed in a repeating design. Every other pair of flags has the text "JULY - 2009" printed inside a blue outlined banner under the flags. The manufacturer's logo "GTP" inside a black oval and the text "GHANA 2405" are printed along both selvedges in repetition.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.12

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Unidentified

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 45 11/16 × 67 5/16 in. (116 × 171 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Nyaniba Estates, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2009

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by an unidentified printer and designer featuring portrait and name of Barack Obama. The fabric is dyed dark blue with resist design in white. There are four (4) rows with the same design of the text "OBAMA" but with the "O" being a face portrait of Barack Obama. These rows are surrounded by geometric stylized chain borders, with five (5) border rows in all.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.13

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Unidentified

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 45 1/2 × 70 1/16 in. (115.5 × 178 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Nyaniba Estates, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2009

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by an unidentified printer and designer featuring flowers and a portrait Barack Obama. The fabric is dyed dark blue with resist design in white. The design has a portrait of Barack Obama alternating with a six-petaled flower in rows and columns.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.14

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

African Pride Textile Mills Ltd., Tanzanian, founded 2003

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 43 5/16 × 70 1/16 in. (110 × 178 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Kanga by African Pride Textile Mills Ltd. in red, white, and blue featuring portraits of Barack Obama and American flags. The cloth has a wide red border and a dark blue interior ground. At the center are four (4) American flags arranged diagonally to create an empty diamond space in the middle. Inside this space are three (3) of the same portrait of Obama, placed in a diagonal and slightly overlapping, with Obama looking upward to the left. They are printed with the middle of the three in red and the outer two in blue. In each corner of the interior section the "O" rising sun logo of the Obama campaign is printed in red, white, and blue, arranged so that the red and white striped portion is facing into the point of the corner. A white rectangle with blue text reading "YES WE CAN - OBAMA" is printed at the bottom center interior section. A thin border surrounds the interior with thick white lines around it and a row of closely spaced five-pointed stars in white inside the lines. In the wide red outer border the year "2008" is printed in white repeatedly and closely spaced. The "O" rising sun logo is again printed in each corner of the outer border, also arranged with the red and white striped section pointing toward the point of the corner. Manufacturer's information is printed vertically along the right side edge that reads "SOMO MOTO, HISTORI-KALI AFRICAN PRIDE TEXTILE MILLS LTD. [star] LESSO [star] PRINTED TANZANIA KHANGA DES NO. 9116".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.15

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Unidentified

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 41 3/4 × 59 1/4 in. (106 × 150.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Tanzania, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Kanga with portrait of Barack Obama and the African continent made in Tanzania. The cloth is a pale purplish-grayu with a wide border in tones of medium and midnight blue. The background of the border is a small scale grid design. A row of stylized flowers made from four (4) heart-shaped petals and a circular center are printed in the middle around the border. A thin border featuring a row of dark blue dots surround the inner and outer sides of the main border section. At the center of the interior section is a large oval photographic portrait of Barack Obama printed in black. He is wearing a suit and tie and is pictured from the chest up and smiling while looking directly at the viewer. Text above him just inside the oval border reads "HONGERA [Congratulations] BARACK OBAMA". Black text printed inside a rectangle outlined in black at the center bottom interior reads in Swahili "UPENDO NA AMANI AMETUJALIA MUNGU" [God Has Blessed Us with Peace and Love]. Printed on either side of Obama is a black outline of the African continent with the island Madagascar, including interior country borders outlined in black with some filled in with red or green. Large black letters reading "AFRICA" are printed along the widest upper part of the continent, with the names of individual countries printed in smaller black text next to or inside their respective borders. The two Africa prints are identical, including the colors of the countries filled in. Manufacturer's information is printed in the lower bottom left corner that reads "NIDA NZITO KHANGA PAMBA YA TANZANIA GIGA:7274".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.16

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Corwin, Marissa, American

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W (each): 16 × 16 in. (40.6 × 40.6 cm)

Type

handkerchiefs

portraits

Place made

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2009

Description

Three handkerchiefs commemorating President Barack Obama's first inaguration. Each handkerchief features the same design printed in white on a solid ground, the ground color of each being different. One is red (.1), one is orange (.2), and one is brown (.3). Printed at the center inside an oval frame made of a leafy vine is a portrait of Barack Obama. This center motif is surrounded by a thin, square ladder border with the ground filled with tiny five-pointed stars. The same ladder border forms the outermost border. Between the ladder borders are several printed motifs with the vertical sides mirroring each other except for one motif. At the top corners are three (3) large paisleys with floral motifs inside them. Below the paisleys on the left side is a donkey with a banner of it reading "OBAMA". Below the paisleys on the right side is a rooster with a word bubble containing music notes coming from its beak. Below the animals on both sides is a bursting firework. At each bottom corner is a large paisley with the "O" containing a rising sun Obama campaign logo. Across the top center of the outer border is an eagle with spread wings holding leafy branches in both talons. Across the bottom center of the outer border is the text "OBAMA / INAUGURATION. JANUARY 2009". Printed in very small text at the upper left near one of the paisley designs is the text "photograph: Justin Stall". Printed in the same sized small text at the upper right near one of the paisley designs is the text "www.handoverfist.etsy.com". There are no labels.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.17.1-.3

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Sunflag Nigeria Limited, Nigerian, founded 1961

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 44 7/8 × 70 7/8 in. (114 × 180 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa, Africa

Place collected

Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa, Africa

Date

2009

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Sunflag Nigeria Limited featuring Barack Obama and his "O" rising sun campaign logo. The fabric has a very pale yellow-green ground with a background design on a grand scale featuring tonal dark blue and teal undulating strands of beads. A large tonal bead is place between the more open space between the strands. A dark blue net with varying widths of holes in the net is behind the beaded strands and single beads. Placed at intervals over top of the beaded strands is a heart containing the "O" rising sun campaign logo complete with red striped ground and bright blue cloudy sky. The "O" of the logo contains a highly pixelated photographic portrait of Barack Obama and text in black around the portrait reading "THE CHANGE THE WORLD NEEDS / BARACK OBAMA". Repeating text printed in dark teal along the selvedge reads "5791", "SUN-FLAG PRINT", and "GUARANTEED".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.2

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Akosombo Textiles Limited, Ghanian, founded 1967

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 45 1/16 × 72 13/16 in. (114.5 × 185 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Place collected

Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Akosombo Textiles Limited featuring a portrait of Barack Obama. The fabric has a blue ground with a printed small-scale geometric design in dark blue. There is a 4 1/2 inch wide border printed at both selvedges featuring a dark blue geometric design of interlocking links resembling a woven or braided cord. Printed in a repeating design over the background are old five-pointed stars outlined in black alternate with an oval gold and dark blue frame with a red interior background featuring a photographic portrait of Barack Obama. Below the portrait is a banner with the text "BARACK OBAMA / 44TH PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES". The design is printed in two rows so that the portrait and star alternate positions both vertically and horizontally. Printed along the bottom selvedge is the text "ATL [inside oval frame] AKOSOMBO TEXTILES LIMITED". Printed along the top selvedge is the text "GUARANTEED SUPERB PRINTS RSP 5653".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.3

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Batex-CI, Malian, founded 2005

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

First Lady Michelle Obama, American, born 1964

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 45 1/2 × 77 15/16 in. (115.5 × 198 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Bamako, District de Bamako, Mali, West Africa, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Batex-CI featuring a portrait of Barack Obama and a double portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama. The fabric has a bright green ground with a background printed design of diamonds filled in with lines and geometric shapes in black, white, and green. The diamonds are oriented in rows that alternate with one row having the green dots at the top and the next row having the green dots at the bottom of the diamond. There are three rows of portraits printed onto the background. The top and bottom rows are the same. They feature a circle with a black outline and white background containing a full color double photographic portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama. A white banner with black text is printed below it that reads "BARACK OBAMA". Between the repeating circle portraits is printed a United States flag on a black pole and oriented facing to the left so that it appears backwards. A white rectangle with black text reading "CHANGE" is printed underneath the flag. The middle row features an oval with a black outline and white background containing a full color photographic half portrait of Barack Obama. A white banner with black text is printed below that reads "BARACK OBAMA". Between the repeating oval portraits are printed a United States flag on a black pole oriented facing to the left so that it appears backwards. Oriented at a slight angle and printed below left and below right of the oval portrait are white rectangles with black text reading "CHANGE". The manufacturer's information is printed in black along the selvedge reading "BATEX CI FABRIQUE AU MALI No. 805 BC [white inside black oval]".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.4

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Shine Shine, South African, founded 2007

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 60 7/16 × 75 9/16 in. (153.5 × 192 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

Date

2009

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Shine Shine featuring graphic portraits of Barack Obama surrounded by rose vines. The fabric has a teal ground with a background print of a leafy rose vine with yellow leaves, coral blooming and bud roses, and light brown vines. The design is oriented so that there is a middle section and two side sections, with the side sections mirroring each other. At each selvedge there is a yellow border with coral swags and yellow fringe having a scalloped edge. Printed above the border as if driving on it is a black town car with coral highlights in profile. The car has a white five-pointed star on the hood in front of the driver side wheel and white text printed on the driver side front and back doors reading "Shine Shine". Above each of the cars is a coral hand balled in a fist with the knuckles facing and the letters "HOPE" in light brown, one letter on each finger. Above the fist is a yellow oval with a black leafy wreath border. Inside the oval is a drawn portrait of Barack Obama wearing a coral shirt and black suit jacket and necktie. He looks upward to the right. His eyes are highlighted in coral and his teeth are yellow with a white five-pointed star at one corner of his parted lips as if they are shining in the light. A yellow banner with black text below the oval reads "HOORAY / FOR THE / PRESIDENT". This same oval drawn portrait is oriented sideways and printed down the middle section without the banner of text. A yellow cardinal sits on the rose vines between each of the sideways oval portraits in this middle section. On the outer sections between the repeating oval portraits above the "HOPE" fists and town cards is a black outlined circle with a yellow interior background and another drawn portrait of Obama. In this portrait he wears a white shirt with black suit jacket and necktie and looks straight at the viewer with his mouth closed but slightly smiling. Coral text printed inside the black border reads "PEOPLE OF THE WORLD THIS IS OUR MOMENT THIS IS OUR TIME". The designer's name "Shine Shine" is printed in black on the top selvedge.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.5

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Shine Shine, South African, founded 2007

Subject of

First Lady Michelle Obama, American, born 1964

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 61 13/16 × 76 3/8 in. (157 × 194 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 3/16 in. (64 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

Date

2009

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Shine Shine featuring graphic portraits of Michelle Obama surrounded by floral vines. The fabric has a mint green ground with a background print of a leafy floral vines with orange leaves, maroon flowers, and light brown vines. The design is oriented so that there is a middle section and two side sections, with the side sections mirroring each other. In the middle section the floral vine consists of blooming and bud roses. In the side sections the floral vine consists of orange fluffy petal flowers with bulbous burgundy centers. At each selvedge there is a scalloped border with a burgundy ground with small black polka dots edged in orange. Large orange fringe hangs from the upper edge of the border in front of the burgundy ground and orange edging. Printed above the border as if driving on it is an orange stretch limousine with black highlights in profile. Black text printed on the side doors reads "Shine Shine" with a black five-pointed star between the words. Above each of the cars is a drawn portrait of Michelle Obama above the chest smiling and waving with her left hand. She wears an orange shirt with burgundy collar and buttons, and a pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet. Above the portrait is a pair of orange sunglasses with black lenses that are closed. Next to the car and portrait of Obama waving is a full-body drawn portrait of Obama seated with her feet tucked under her and her right arm draped over the back of a white leopard with black spots that is standing. Obama is smiling and speaking into the headpiece of a white telephone she holds in her left hand. She wears an orange sleeveless short nightgown, burgundy shoes, and pearl earrings. The leopard has its mouth open showing fangs with its head turned toward Obama's. An orange banner with black text is printed below the portrait that reads "DON'T STAND IN MY LIGHT". Above the portrait are printed a pair of burgundy gloves with black topstitching detail. The center section of the fabric contains the full-body portrait of Obama with the leopard oriented sideways. The portrait alternates with an orange outlined circle with a burgundy ground containing the same pair of closed orange sunglasses with black lenses. Text printed in black inside the orange border reads "NEVER GO TO BED WITHOUT WASHING YOUR DISHES". The designer's name "Shine Shine" is printed in black on one selvedge.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.6

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Shine Shine, South African, founded 2007

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 60 5/8 × 76 3/8 in. (154 × 194 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place made

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

Date

2009

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Shine Shine featuring graphic portraits of Barack Obama surrounded by rose vines. The fabric has an orange ground with a background print of a leafy rose vine with pale green leaves, red blooming and bud roses, and light brown vines. The design is oriented so that there is a middle section and two side sections, with the side sections mirroring each other. At each selvedge there is a pale green border with red swags and pale green fringe having a scalloped edge. Printed above the border as if driving on it is a black town car with red highlights in profile. The car has a white five-pointed star on the hood in front of the driver side wheel and white text printed on the driver side front and back doors reading "Shine Shine". Above each of the cars is a red hand balled in a fist with the knuckles facing and the letters "HOPE" in light brown, one letter on each finger. Above the fist is a pale green oval with a black leafy wreath border. Inside the oval is a drawn portrait of Barack Obama wearing a red shirt and black suit jacket and necktie. He looks upward to the right. His eyes are highlighted in red and his teeth are pale green with a white five-pointed star at one corner of his parted lips as if they are shining in the light. A pale green banner with black text below the oval reads "HOORAY / FOR THE / PRESIDENT". This same oval drawn portrait is oriented sideways and printed down the middle section without the banner of text. A pale green cardinal sits on the rose vines between each of the sideways oval portraits in this middle section. On the outer sections between the repeating oval portraits above the "HOPE" fists and town cards is a black outlined circle with a pale green interior background and another drawn portrait of Obama. In this portrait he wears a white shirt with black suit jacket and necktie and looks straight at the viewer with his mouth closed but slightly smiling. Red text printed inside the black border reads "PEOPLE OF THE WORLD THIS IS OUR MOMENT THIS IS OUR TIME". The designer's name "Shine Shine" is printed in black on the top selvedge.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.7

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Printed by

Peters, Shani, American, born 1981

Manufactured by

Vlisco Group, Dutch, founded 1846

Subject of

Cousins, Aisha, American

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 46 7/8 × 78 3/4 in. (119.1 × 200 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 35 13/16 in. (91 cm)

H x W (Printed Portrait): 10 1/2 × 7 11/16 in. (26.7 × 19.5 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place printed

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place made

Helmond, North Brabant, Netherlands, Europe

Date

2011

Description

Length of printed textile by Vlisco customized with added printed graphic portraits of Barack Obama. The fabric features a white ground with an abstract design in tones of blues with teal and olive. There are three (3) rows all the same, but with the top and bottom rows having olive details and the middle row having teal details. The design is a very large scale pattern of diamonds set horizontally in a row, the corners covered by large abstract flowers printed in tones of blue that connect the diamonds together on all sides to create a grid. The diamonds are shell-like, with undulating borders in dark blue and are infilled with thin dark blue undulating lines and a pebbled batik technique. The top and bottom rows have the olive batik and the middle row has the teal batik. There are partials of the pattern with the teal batik near the selvedge at both ends as well. The white spaces between the batik filled shell-like diamonds are also shaped like diamonds with the corners covered by the stylized flowers, and are also filled in with thin dark blue undulating lines. An oval-framed portrait of Barack Obama is custom printed in black and white onto the manufactured printed fabric. Text inside the frame reads "BLACK PRESIDENT'S DAY FEBRUARY 21, 2011 / BARACK OBAMA 44TH PRESIDENT OF TEH U.S.A." The added prints are placed on top of the olive and teal filled shell-like diamonds in an alternating pattern so that there are two (2) portraits stacked vertically in the top and bottom row of olive diamonds with the teal diamond in the middle between them left blank. In the next column, the olive diamonds are blank and the teal diamond contains the added printed portrait of Obama. Manufacturer's information is printed on both selvedges that reads in repetition "GUARANTEED DUTCH WAX VLISCO *SUPER-WAX* A1094 *SUPER-WAX".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.8

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Woodin, Ghanian, founded 1985

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

cotton

Dimensions

H x W: 47 5/8 × 71 5/8 in. (121 × 182 cm)

Vertical Repeat: 24 in. (61 cm)

Horizontal Repeat: 24 13/16 in. (63 cm)

Type

textiles

Place made

Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Date

2008

Description

Length of commemorative printed textile by Woodin in red featuring Barack Obama campaign slogan "Yes We Can." The fabric has a background printed design of small red triangles arranged with their points away from each other, creating diamond with a white horizontal strip in the middle and white diamond shapes around the red triangles. The white diamonds have a bright blue dot printed at the center. A red silhouette of the continent of Africa is printed repeatedly in a scattered design over the background. The silhouettes contain three (3) different motifs in white text, arranged to alternate on the silhouettes placed on the fabric. One motif is the stylized "W" logo of the printer, Woodin, done in white in the left corner over West Africa. The second motif has a large white dot with the word "GHANA" to the right of the dot, placed along the West African coast corresponding to the geographic location of the country of Ghana. The third motif has the words of the Obama campaign slogan "yes / WE / CAN" printed across the continent. Manufacturer's information is printed along the bottom selvedge in repetition that reads "Noir et Blanc de woodin GHANA".

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2017.16.9

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Faturoti, Lola, Nigerian American

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

dye on silk (textile)

Dimensions

H x W: 49 1/16 × 45 11/16 in. (124.6 × 116 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place printed

Korea, Asia

Place made

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2009

Caption

This cloth by Lola Faturoti draws influence from the textile traditions of kanga and kente. Though not in traditional kente style, Faturoti has called the work “her version” of the kente cloth. During the candidacy and election of President Barack Obama, similar commemorative cloths were produced on the continent of Africa and around the world. The inspiration for this pattern was “Jubilation, Celebrating the History of the First Black President.” The designer chose chiffon because it represents “air,” ethereal and grace; the waves represent the ocean ushering joy, happiness and newness.

Description

A length of commemorative printed textile by Lola Faturoti. The silk chiffon textile features images of President Barack Obama set against an alternating, wavy, stripe pattern in blue/white and red/yellow. Throughout the length of the textile are six (6) repeating portraits of Obama. Each portrait of Obama is outlined within an oval frame. The oval frame is white with text printed along the bottom half that reads [OLUWA GBA PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA] in Yoruba, which translates as "God Bless President Barack Obama." Underneath the oval is a graphic of a white banner, with text that reads [JANUARY 20. 2009]. A black and white graphic of Obama is depicted in the center of each oval, against a white and gray pebbled pattern background. The textile has a background design of a continuous blue/white and red/yellow pebbled pattern throughout. The pebble pattern is contained with thick black lines that create a wave-like movement in various directions. A white selvedge edge runs the length of the left edge of the textile, with color registrations printed on the top and bottom corners.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Fashion

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2018.10.1

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Faturoti, Lola, Nigerian American

Subject of

President Barack Obama, American, born 1961

Medium

dye on silk (textile)

Dimensions

H x W: 53 3/8 × 45 13/16 in. (135.6 × 116.4 cm)

Type

textiles

portraits

Place printed

Korea, Asia

Place made

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2009

Caption

This cloth by Lola Faturoti draws influence from the textile traditions of kanga and kente. Though not in traditional kente style, Faturoti has called the work “her version” of the kente cloth. During the candidacy and election of President Barack Obama, similar commemorative cloths were produced on the continent of Africa and around the world. The inspiration for this pattern was “Jubilation, Celebrating the History of the First Black President.” The designer chose satin to represent “Earth” grounding and chose a diamond design for a celebratory look; the waves represent the ocean ushering joy, happiness and newness.

Description

A length of commemorative printed textile by Lola Faturoti. The silk satin Crêpe De Chine textile features images of President Barack Obama set against an alternating, wavy, stripe pattern in blue/white and red/yellow with repeating reflective diamond shapes woven into the fabric. Throughout the length of the textile are six (6) repeating portraits of Obama. Each portrait of Obama is outlined within an oval frame. The oval frame is white with text printed along the bottom half that reads [OLUWA GBA PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA] in Yoruba, which translates as "God Bless President Barack Obama." Underneath the oval is a graphic of a white banner, with text that reads [JANUARY 20. 2009]. A black and white graphic of Obama is depicted in the center of each oval, against a white and gray pebbled pattern background. The textile has a background design of a continuous blue/white and red/yellow pebbled pattern throughout. The pebble pattern is contained with thick black lines that create a wave-like movement in various directions. A white selvedge edge runs the length of the left edge of the textile, with color registrations printed on the top and bottom corners.

Topic

African American

Africa

African diaspora

Design

Fashion

Identity

Politics (Practical)

Textile design

United States--History--2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

Object number

2018.10.2

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture