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Revolutionary Sister

Dindga McCannon

Contemporary Art

Dindga McCannon wrote about her inspiration for making Revolutionary Sister:

In the 60s and 70s we didn’t have many women warriors (that we were aware of) so I created my own. Her headpiece is made from recycled mini flag poles. The shape was inspired by my thoughts on the statue of liberty; she represents freedom for so many but what about us (African Americans)? My warrior is made from pieces from the hardware store—another place women were not welcomed back then. My thoughts were my warrior is hard as nails. I used a lot of the liberation colors: red—for the blood we shed; green—for the Motherland—Africa; and black—for the people. The bullet belt validates her warrior status. She doesn’t need a gun; the power of change exists within her. The belt was mine. In the early 70s bullet belts were a fashion statement, I think inspired by the blaxploitation movies of the time. I couldn’t afford the metal belts, probably purchased at army navy surplus stores, so I made do with a plastic one.
MEDIUM Mixed media construction on wood
DATES 1971
DIMENSIONS 62 x 27 in. (157.5 x 68.6 cm)  (show scale)
SIGNATURE Signed LR
INSCRIPTIONS Dated LR
COLLECTIONS Contemporary Art
ACCESSION NUMBER 2012.80.32
CREDIT LINE Gift of R.M. Atwater, Anna Wolfrom Dove, Alice Fiebiger, Joseph Fiebiger, Belle Campbell Harriss, and Emma L. Hyde, by exchange, Designated Purchase Fund, Mary Smith Dorward Fund, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, and Carll H. de Silver Fund
PROVENANCE By 2012, purchased from the artist by David Lusenhop of Hamtramck, MI and M.M. Azzi Fine Art & Design, Inc., Chicago, IL; 2012, purchased from David Lusenhop and M.M. Azzi Fine Art & Design, Inc. by the Brooklyn Museum.
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MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Dindga McCannon (American, born 1947). Revolutionary Sister, 1971. Mixed media construction on wood, 62 x 27 in. (157.5 x 68.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of R.M. Atwater, Anna Wolfrom Dove, Alice Fiebiger, Joseph Fiebiger, Belle Campbell Harriss, and Emma L. Hyde, by exchange, Designated Purchase Fund, Mary Smith Dorward Fund, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, and Carll H. de Silver Fund, 2012.80.32. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2012.80.32_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 2012.80.32_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2017
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RIGHTS STATEMENT © Dindga McCannon
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