Black Swan

Terry Adkins, artist

1953–2014

Black Swan, 2006

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: inkjet print

Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 40 x 80 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 1016 x 2032 mm

Credit line: Museum purchase: Peter T. Bohan Art Acquisition Fund

Accession number: 2007.0090

Not on display

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Adkins is known for his multimedia performances that fuse music and sculpture. He said his quest as an artist “has been to find a way to make music as physical as sculpture might be, and sculpture as ethereal as music is.” Many of his performances and videos recognize pioneering figures in African American history, including abolitionist John Brown, musician Jimi Hendrix, and activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Among his innovations, Adkins invented an 18-foot-long horn called an arkaphone. In this large print, Black Swan, Adkins celebrates early contributions to the music industry by African Americans through a grid of colorful, historical record labels. Founded in Harlem, New York, in 1921, Black Swan was the name of a record label that featured blues and jazz music.