Fourth of July Journey Through American Art

Summer holiday with a dash of American art

Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
July 2, 2024
Media - 1974.118.12 - SAAM-1974.118.12_1 - 128184

Russell T. Gordon, Hot Dog Bridge, 1974, color lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Christopher A. Graf and Janet Graf, 1974.118.12

Family reunion? Week at the beach? Small town parade? Baseball game? Escape to the woods? Working all day? Whatever your plans for America's birthday, we have an artwork to fit. So pour yourself a lemonade, find a spot in the shade, and enjoy your holiday with a dash of American art. 

Media - 1983.63.789 - SAAM-1983.63.789_1 - 56686

Robert K. Hower, July 4, 1976, Louisville, KY, 1976, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.789, ©1976, Robert K. Hower

Found the perfect spot, now settling in to wait for the parade to begin.

Media - 1978.168.18 - SAAM-1978.168.18_1 - 123608

Di Stovall, Ice Cream Orchard, screenprint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Donald A. Brown, 1978.168.18

Perhaps your dream holiday includes ice cream, as far as the eye can see...

Wreath-shaped assemblage made of objects found on the beach.

Robert Ebendorf, Off the Street, On the Beach, 1992, mixed media of found objects, mostly plastic, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Kenneth R. Trapp in honor of Robert Ebendorf, 2003.27.1

Treasures from a day at the beach, a mermaid's dream necklace.

Media - 1976.146.18 - SAAM-1976.146.18_2 - 89544

Morris Kantor, Baseball at Night, 1934, oil on linen, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Morris Kantor, 1976.146.18

Baseball, apple pie, and the Fourth of July.

Media - 1982.25.18 - SAAM-1982.25.18_1 - 57562

Harry Brodsky, Summer Night, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1982.25.18

We see you: working all day for holiday pay, running home to catch a glimpse of the fireworks display.

Media - 1986.92.55 - SAAM-1986.92.55_1 - 10224

Hananiah Harari, Sparklers on the Fourth, 1940, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Patricia and Phillip Frost, 1986.92.55

Don't let life imitate art (careful with those burning hot sparklers!).

Have a happy Fourth of July!

Media - 2002.83 - SAAM-2002.83_1 - 72835

Mimi Herbert, Folded Flag #2, 2001, silk-screened formed acrylic, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2002.83

This story was originally published July 3, 2019.

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