Untitled (Family Tree Totem)

William Dawson, Untitled (Family Tree Totem), 1977, painted wood, 23 × 3 1⁄8 × 3 1⁄2 in. (58.4 × 7.9 × 8.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.7

Artwork Details

Title
Untitled (Family Tree Totem)
Artist
Date
1977
Location
Dimensions
23 × 3 1⁄8 × 3 1⁄2 in. (58.4 × 7.9 × 8.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc.
Mediums Description
painted wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Landscape — tree
  • Figure group — family
  • Figure female — head
  • Figure male — head
Object Number
2015.58.7
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2015.58.7

Artwork Description

William Dawson’s carved totems, made from discarded table and chair legs, were the sculptural form for which he would become famous. This one depicts blocky, stylized heads placed one above the other, with a green tree at the base symbolizing a family tree. Among the striking features of Dawson’s work are the eyes and teeth, each painted brilliant white against a darker background.

Works by this artist (6 items)

View all artworks
William Dawson, Totem, ca. 1975, acrylic and felt-tipped pen and ink on carved wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1981.136.1
Totem
Artist
Dateca. 1975
acrylic and felt-tipped pen and ink on carved wood
On view
William Dawson, Self-Portrait, ca. 1970 - 1980, painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.6
Self-Portrait
Artist
Dateca. 1970 - 1980
painted wood
On view
William Dawson, Untitled (Lady), ca. 1970 - 1980, painted wood and hair, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.8
Untitled (Lady)
Artist
Dateca. 1970 - 1980
painted wood and hair
On view
William Dawson, Totem with Cane, 1978, carved and painted wood, metal, and plastic, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.9A-B
Totem with Cane
Artist
Date1978
carved and painted wood, metal, and plastic
On view

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Lapstrake I
Artist
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Georgia gray granite
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John Safer, Chandelle, 1969, revised 2013, Lucite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2007.23
Chandelle
Artist
Date1969, revised 2013
Lucite
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Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Shell), early 1930s, mixed media: paperboard, paper, shells, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1985.64.37
Untitled (Shell)
Artist
Dateearly 1930s
mixed media: paperboard, paper, shells
Not on view
Emery Blagdon, The Healing Machine, ca. 1955-1986, mixed media, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment and gift of Dan Dryden, friend of Emery Blagdon, the Kohler Foundation, Inc., and John E. and Douglas O. Robson, from the Margaret Z. Robson Collection, VR.2014.49.GRP
The Healing Machine
Artist
Dateca. 1955-1986
mixed media
On view