Photograph by
Summer, Donna, American, 1948 - 2012
Manufactured by
Eastman Kodak Company, founded 1889
Date
ca. 1991
Medium
dye on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W x D (Sheet): 4 1/4 × 3 1/2 × 1/16 in. (10.8 × 8.9 × 0.2 cm)
H x W (Image): 3 1/8 × 3 1/16 in. (7.9 × 7.8 cm)
Caption
Christie's auction site dated this photograph as ca. 1991. This may be confirmed by the eleven digit code on the back of the photograph. In this case, the code is 02111111089: 02 is the month, 1 is the manufacturing year, and 11111089 is the machine and shift information. Though it is unclear if the 1 refers to 1981 or 1991. However, it is most likely the 1990s. Following her marriage to Bruce Sudano in 1980, Summer began to paint prolifically on their 56-acre ranch in Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, California. Two articles noted that she had a garage studio and would often paint alongside her daughters. In the Donna Summer documentary titled, Love to Love you Donna Summer, at about the 1.30.00 mark, there is an audio clip by Summers explaining that her daughters inspired her to paint, which she also felt gave her full creative autonomy. Based on her younger daughters' ages, Brooklyn Sudano (b. 1981) and Amanda Sudano (b. 1982), the early 1990s seems likely. Her oldest daughter, Mimi Sommer (b. 1973), appears to have spent her early years with Summer's parents but later lived with her mother and stepfather Bruce Sudano in California. If the date attribution is correct, Summer's California studio is also most likely where this photograph was taken. Both polaroids in this lot, (2023.85.2.1 and 2023.85.2.2) appear to have been taken in the same location. That said, it is possible that this was taken at her Nashville, TN residence which was built in 1993.
The painting of the woman in the red dress (2023.85.2.1) is partially visible in the HBO documentary at the 1.23.25 mark. In the scene, two of her daughters are going through their mother's art studio, discussing her art. Presumably, this is her studio in Naples Florida, where Summers and Sudano lived until from 2007 until her death in 2012.
CF, 10/3/2023
Sources:
"TWO POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS OF DONNA SUMMER'S WORKS ON CANVAS
DONNA SUMMER, CIRCA 1991," Christie's
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/collection-donna-summer/two-polaroid-photographs-donna-summers-works-canvas-45/186939?ldp_breadcrumb=back. Accessed 10/2/2023.
"Film Identification and Manufacturing Information," Gawain Weaver Art Conservation
https://gawainweaver.com/images/uploads/file/Polaroid_ID.pdf. Accessed 10/2/2023.
"6 Ways of Looking at Donna Summer," The Cut
https://www.thecut.com/2023/06/donna-summer-exhibit-sale.html. Accessed 10/3/2023.
"Donna Summer’s Passionate Paintings Come Into Focus with a New Documentary and a Christie’s Sale," ARTnews
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/artists/donna-summer-paintings-art-disco-christies-love-to-love-you-1234679595/. Accessed 10/3/2023.
Williams, Roger Ross and Brooklyn Sudano. Love to Love you Donna Summer. HBO, 2023, 1 HR 47min. https://www.hbo.com/movies/love-to-love-you-donna-summer. Accessed 10/3/2023.
"Florida Residence of the Late Pop Singer and Disco Diva, Donna Summer, Sells for US$2.85 million," Christies International Real Estate
https://www.christiesrealestate.com/article/florida-residence-of-the-late-pop-singer-and-disco-diva-donna-summer-sells-for-us-2-85-million. Accessed 10/3/2023.
"914 Overton Lea Rd. Nashville, Tennessee 37220," Fridrich & Clark Realty
https://fridrichandclark.com/listings/rt-1465460-914-overton-lea-rd-nashville-tennessee-37220/. Accessed 10/3/2023.
Description
A color Polaroid photograph taken by Donna Summer depicting two paintings by Donna Summer. The colorful abstract portrait paintings are shown sitting on a hardwood floor, leaning against a white wall. The taller portrait, on the left, is of a woman wearing a plum-colored dress set against a plain, blue-gray background. The woman has long, curly black hair and extends her proper right arm out to her side. In the top left corner of the portrait are a pair of dangling, bare legs. The second, smaller portrait depicts a woman in red with long black hair, standing in front of male figure. The woman is depicted from the bust-up, with the man partially visible over her shoulder. Both appear on the left side of the painting. The right side of the portrait has a light purple field at the bottom and blue-gray field at the top. Six red poppies are painted over the blue field. The back of the photograph is black with a white frame. The date and film code, [02111111089], is printed in the bottom left corner with [POLAROID ® 6] in the right corner.
Place captured
Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
dye diffusion transfer prints
Topic
Art
Composers (Musicians)
Disco (Music)
Photography
Singers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2023.85.2.1
Restrictions & Rights
© Estate of Donna Summer
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd554ae280a-cb39-4287-b1f1-3ef1a7e53d78

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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