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Mining the Museum: Cigar store Indian facing portraits of community members of American Indian descent

Description

The image depicts works on display in "Mining the Museum," a 1992-1993 installation by artist Fred Wilson at the Maryland Historical Society. In Mining the Museum, Wilson used the museum's collections to confront and challenge perceptions about history, culture, and race. It was a joint exhibition with The Contemporary in Baltimore.
On display is a rear view of a "Tobacconist's Figure", circa 1879, by Baltimore woodworker John Philip Yeager. The figure once stood outside of a tobacco shop on Madison Avenue, near Biddle Street, in Baltimore. In this scene, the figure faces portraits of members of the local community who are of American Indian descent. The sculptural stereotypical depiction of the Indian stands with their back to the viewers and instead faces the "real" American Indians whose portraits hang on the wall. In this tableau, the sculpture serves as a "portrait" of the cigar store owners who chose to display such sculptures outside their stores.

Date

1992-1993

Contributor(s)

Contributor(s) Notes

Photographer: Maryland Historical Society Museum; Artist: Fred Wilson

Collection Number

MS 2008

Dimensions

35 mm

Object ID

MTM 009A

Extent

1 slide

Resource ID

4623

Digital Publisher

Digital resource provided by the Maryland Center for History and Culture

Rights

This digital image is made available here for private study, scholarship, and research. Commercial and other uses are prohibited without the permission of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. For more information, visit the MCHC’s Reproductions and Permissions web page.