reproduction of black and white photograph of Native Americans in front of teepee, with man in foreground at right seen from back playing a drum, with one man in Western garments at right edge of image; printed text in black in upper right: "To Thee we sing"; five beaded medallions with silver beaded ground and blue lettering, with one letter on each medallion, spelling, "BINGO", horizontally across center of sheet; white frame

%C2%A9 2002 Tom Jones

Dear America: To Thee We Sing, 2002

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In each panel of "Dear America", Tom Jones appropriates and enlarges historic images of Native Americans from postcards, then uses verses of the patriotic song "America" (1832) to unpack the experience and often unwritten history of Native Americans in the United States. Jones carefully selected each photograph to blend portraits and additional images together. The lyrics offer commentary and invite us to consider the

contradictions and struggles that Native Americans face. Added to these photograph montages are bead and quillwork, providing additional layers of Native American artistic traditions that hold thousands of years of meaning and context

Details
Title
Dear America: To Thee We Sing
Artist Life
(Ho-Chunk (Winnebago)), born 1964
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.57.11
Curator Approved

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reproduction of black and white photograph of Native Americans in front of teepee, with man in foreground at right seen from back playing a drum, with one man in Western garments at right edge of image; printed text in black in upper right: "To Thee we sing"; five beaded medallions with silver beaded ground and blue lettering, with one letter on each medallion, spelling, "BINGO", horizontally across center of sheet; white frame

© 2002 Tom Jones

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