Classroom with Three Figures

Lavern Kelley, Classroom with Three Figures, 1979, 1984-1987, white pine, plywood, brass, and plastic, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1989.92A-L
Copied Lavern Kelley, Classroom with Three Figures, 1979, 1984-1987, white pine, plywood, brass, and plastic, overall: 36 3⁄8 x 30 1⁄8 x 45 in. (92.4 x 76.5 x 114.3 cm.) base: 25 1⁄4 x 30 1⁄8 x 1 1⁄2 in. (64.2 x 76.6 x 3.8 cm.) A (teacher): 32 1⁄2 x 10 7⁄8 x 10 1⁄4 in. (82.6 x 27.7 x 26.1 cm.) B (boy): 24 1⁄2 x 5 5⁄8 x 3 3⁄8 in. (62.2 x 14.3 x 8.6 cm.) C (girl): 24 5⁄8 x 5 1⁄2 x 2 3⁄4 in. (62.6 x 14.0 x 7.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1989.92A-L

Artwork Details

Title
Classroom with Three Figures
Artist
Date
1979, 1984-1987
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
overall: 36 3⁄8 x 30 1⁄8 x 45 in. (92.4 x 76.5 x 114.3 cm.) base: 25 1⁄4 x 30 1⁄8 x 1 1⁄2 in. (64.2 x 76.6 x 3.8 cm.) A (teacher): 32 1⁄2 x 10 7⁄8 x 10 1⁄4 in. (82.6 x 27.7 x 26.1 cm.) B (boy): 24 1⁄2 x 5 5⁄8 x 3 3⁄8 in. (62.2 x 14.3 x 8.6 cm.) C (girl): 24 5⁄8 x 5 1⁄2 x 2 3⁄4 in. (62.6 x 14.0 x 7.0 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
white pine, plywood, brass, and plastic
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — written matter — book
  • Object — furniture — desk
  • Occupation — education — student
  • Figure group — female and child
  • Occupation — education — teacher
Object Number
1989.92A-L
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1989.92A-L

Artwork Description

Sharing the sentiment of cartoonist Bill Watterson that, "people who get nostalgic about childhood were obviously never children," Lavern Kelley's piece recalls the perceived captivity of the grade school experience.

"Whatever I do, I want it to be my own thoughts and methods, not somebody else’s."
—Lavern Kelley

Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006