<I>Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial</I>
date: label: Date
content: 2007
name: label: Created by
content: Alison Saar, American, born 1956
label: Subject of
content: Harriet Tubman, American, 1822 - 1913
notes: label: Caption
content: This maquette of Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial is the model of a sculpture erected in the historically Black community of Harlem, in Manhattan, amidst plantings native to New York and Maryland, Tubman’s home state. The work depicts Tubman marching toward the American South like a locomotive, her petticoats pushing aside all resistance. The roots trailing her dress symbolize enslaved people uprooting themselves on their journey toward freedom, and Tubman’s role in uprooting the slave system itself.
label: Caption
content: On her portrayal of Tubman, Saar says, “I wanted not merely to speak of her courage or illustrate her commitment but to honor her compassion. And in this monument, I hope that the spirit of Harriet Tubman will inspire compassion in all of us here and for generations to come.”
label: Description
content: A bronze maquette for the Harriet Tubman memorial monument. The maquette portrays Tubman walking forward while trailing behind her are roots extending from the ground. On the surface of her skirt are individual faces along with locks and keys. Tubman stands on a small platform set atop a rock-like surface. Along the edge of the platform are small squares resembling quilt blocks. Set in an alternating pattern, each block depicts either geometric design or a small vignette, such as a male and female figure with an angel, a female figure chopping wood, and a male and female figure holding hands.
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Activism
label: Topic
content: Art
label: Topic
content: Emancipation
label: Topic
content: Freedom
label: Topic
content: Resistance
label: Topic
content: Self-liberation
label: Topic
content: Slavery
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865
label: Topic
content: Women
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Visual Arts
label: Exhibition
content: Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 052
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Mimi and Werner Wolfen.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2011.63
objectType: label: Type
content: maquettes
label: Type
content: portraits
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: © 2007 Alison Saar
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: bronze
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 22 1/2 × 12 × 24 in. (57.2 × 30.5 × 61 cm)