Man Playing Drums

Steve Ashby, Man Playing Drums, 1973, incised, painted and assembled wood, 12 ¹⁄₂ x 4 ¹⁄₂ x 3 ¹⁄₈ in. (31.7 x 11.4 x 7.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1982.114.5

Artwork Details

Title: Man Playing Drums
Artist: Steve Ashby
Date: 1973
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Luce Foundation Center
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3rd Floor
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27A
Dimensions: 12 ¹⁄₂ x 4 ¹⁄₂ x 3 ¹⁄₈ in. (31.7 x 11.4 x 7.9 cm.)
Credit Line: Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak
Mediums: wood
Mediums Description: incised, painted and assembled wood
Classifications: Sculpture
Subjects: Object — musical instrument — drum
Figure male — full length
Performing arts — music — drum
African American
Object Number: 1982.114.5
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1982.114.5

Artwork Description

It may have been loneliness and newfound free time that drove Steve Ashby, a retired widower, to populate his property with colorful sculptures cut from plywood, painted, and embellished with found objects and personal items. Ashby favored expressiveness over realism, and characters such as Man Playing Drums reflect his preference for lively, colorful moments that evoke the uniquely human sounds of music and laughter.