Created by
Newsum, Floyd, American, 1950 - 2024
Date
2008
Medium
acrylic and oil paint on paper mounted to board with mixed media
Dimensions
H x W x D (framed): 59 1/4 × 88 3/4 × 1 7/8 in. (150.5 × 225.4 × 4.8 cm)
L x W (artwork): 56 1/2 × 87 in. (143.5 × 221 cm)
Caption
"A painting is a collection of thoughts in a single composition . . . and sometimes my intent is to present more than one interpretation." - Floyd Newsum
For most of America, reports of the massive destruction caused by 2005’s Hurricane Katrina came into our homes via 24-hour news vehicles such as CNN. They documented the storm itself, the thousands left stranded, the disastrous rescue effort, and the enduring effect of its aftermath. Moreover, the coverage revealed the presence of racial disquiet that remains embedded in our society.
After the Storm CNN’s fragmented landscape of objects and images—such as the snake, television, dog, and ladder—contained within a sea of blue color reflects the complex nature of this event and its hotly contested political and social aftermath.
Description
A fractured landscape painting in acrylic and oil on four (4) sheets of paper mounted to board with mixed media. The artwork depicts ladders, houses, geometric shapes, birds, dogs, snakes, and other abstract forms on a cobalt blue background. In the upper left quadrant, there is a red TV, with an antenna and feet, with the letters [CNN] on the television screen.
Place made
Houston, Texas, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
paintings
mixed media
Topic
Abstraction
African diaspora
American South
Art
Folklife
Mass media
U.S. History, 2001-
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, a gift to the People of America from the Van Fleets of Texas
Object number
2013.235
Restrictions & Rights
© Floyd Newsum
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d228a762-b73b-41da-a7f6-cd7644440ab0

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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