{"object":[{"sourceId":{"label":"Source ID","value":"2644"},"copyright":{"label":"Copyright","value":"© Estate of Mary T. Smith / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York"},"creditline":{"label":"Credit Line","value":"Gift of Ruth and Robert Vogele"},"endDate":{"label":"End Date","value":"1985"},"sortNumber":{"label":"Sort Number","value":"1999     4    1"},"invno":{"label":"Accession number","value":"1999.4.1"},"medium":{"label":"Medium","value":"Paint on corrugated metal"},"geographyPlaceregion":{"label":"Place/Region","value":"Hazlehurst"},"media":{"label":"Media","value":{"mediaURL":"https://collection.folkartmuseum.org/internal/media/dispatcher/3176/full","mediaDepartment":"Object Photographs","mediaType":"Image","mediaId":"3176"}},"title":{"label":"Title","value":"Untitled (HEAR)"},"geographyCity":{"value":"Hazlehurst"},"textEntriesWebsitedisplaytext":{"value":["PAINTING","Most Africans brought to the Americas as slaves came from the central West African regions, and the beliefs, artistic traditions, and aesthetics of that region became a primary cultural resource for New World Africans. Even as American slaves adopted Christianity, they retained African concepts and cultural preferences. Indeed, to this day, African American arts have retained a number of these beliefs and preferences. Hear, a protective figure from Mary T. Smith\u2019s decorated yard, is clearly informed by African practices and sensibilities. The decorating of a yard with protective figures or watchful faces is itself a West African form, and Smith\u2019s intimidating figure is created in accordance with African aesthetics, in which strong color contrasts are favored and colors carry specific meanings. The predominant red and black of this figure are the colors of the Yoruba god Eshu-Elegba, who presides over crossroads and thresholds. Smith activates the figure\u2019s intellectual and procreative powers with dots that can be read as ashe, or flashes of the spirit, which represent \u201cthe power to make things happen.\u201d Above the figure\u2019s head, Smith painted \u201cHear,\u201d which could also mean \u201chere.\u201d The guardian figure\u2019s eyes remind any would-be trespasser that the eyes of the spirits (and the community) are watching.Cheryl Rivers, \"Hear,\" in Stacy C. Hollander, American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001). 398.Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.　To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org","Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.　To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org"]},"collections":{"label":"Collections","value":"Paintings"},"geography":{"label":"Geography","value":"Hazlehurst"},"id":{"label":"Id","value":"154028"},"geographyState":{"value":"Mississippi"},"geographyCountry":{"value":"United States"},"onview":{"label":"On View","value":"0"},"people":{"label":"Artist / Maker","value":{"displayOrder":"1","personRole":"Artist","personID":"803","content":"Mary T. Smith"}},"classifications":{"label":"Classification(s)","value":"Paintings"},"textEntries":{"label":"Text Entries","value":["PAINTING","Most Africans brought to the Americas as slaves came from the central West African regions, and the beliefs, artistic traditions, and aesthetics of that region became a primary cultural resource for New World Africans. Even as American slaves adopted Christianity, they retained African concepts and cultural preferences. Indeed, to this day, African American arts have retained a number of these beliefs and preferences. Hear, a protective figure from Mary T. Smith\u2019s decorated yard, is clearly informed by African practices and sensibilities. The decorating of a yard with protective figures or watchful faces is itself a West African form, and Smith\u2019s intimidating figure is created in accordance with African aesthetics, in which strong color contrasts are favored and colors carry specific meanings. The predominant red and black of this figure are the colors of the Yoruba god Eshu-Elegba, who presides over crossroads and thresholds. Smith activates the figure\u2019s intellectual and procreative powers with dots that can be read as ashe, or flashes of the spirit, which represent \u201cthe power to make things happen.\u201d Above the figure\u2019s head, Smith painted \u201cHear,\u201d which could also mean \u201chere.\u201d The guardian figure\u2019s eyes remind any would-be trespasser that the eyes of the spirits (and the community) are watching.Cheryl Rivers, \"Hear,\" in Stacy C. Hollander, American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001). 398.Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.　To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org","Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.　To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org"]},"beginDate":{"label":"Begin Date","value":"1975"},"displayDate":{"label":"Date","value":"c. 1980"},"exhibitions":{"label":"Exhibitions","value":[{"exhibitionDisplayDate":"Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - Sunday, September 5, 2010","exhibitionEndISODate":"2010-09-05","exhibitionID":"147","exhibitionISOBeginDate":"2009-10-06","exhibitionBeginDate":"2009","exhibitionTitle":"Approaching Abstraction","exhibitionEndDate":"2010"},{"exhibitionDisplayDate":"Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - Sunday, March 24, 2024","exhibitionEndISODate":"2024-03-24","exhibitionID":"254","exhibitionISOBeginDate":"2023-11-15","exhibitionBeginDate":"2023","exhibitionTitle":"Marvels of My Own Inventiveness","exhibitionEndDate":"2024"},{"exhibitionDisplayDate":"Monday, October 15, 2018 - Thursday, February 7, 2019","exhibitionEndISODate":"2019-02-07","exhibitionID":"227","exhibitionISOBeginDate":"2018-10-15","exhibitionBeginDate":"2018","exhibitionTitle":"Roadside Attraction","exhibitionEndDate":"2019"},{"exhibitionDisplayDate":"Thursday, July 11, 2002 - Sunday, January 5, 2003","exhibitionEndISODate":"2003-01-26","exhibitionID":"73","exhibitionISOBeginDate":"2002-07-11","exhibitionBeginDate":"2002","exhibitionTitle":"American Anthem","exhibitionEndDate":"2003"}]},"dimensions":{"label":"Dimensions","value":"54 x 15 \"Frame: 54 x 14 x 2 \""}}]}