American Myth & Memory: David Levinthal Photographs

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Populated with toy cowboys and cavalry, Barbie dolls and baseball players, David Levinthal’s photographs reference iconic images and events that shaped postwar American society. Despite their playful veneer, Levinthal’s images provide a lens through which to examine the myths and stereotypes lurking within our most beloved pastimes and enduring heroes. In doing so, Levinthal encourages us to consider the stories we tell about ourselves — what it means to be strong, beautiful, masculine, feminine, and ultimately, American.

Description

American Myth & Memory: David Levinthal Photographs brings together six of the artist’s best-known bodies of work to explore some myths found in American popular culture and their place in our collective memory. Created between 1984 and 2018, the series Modern Romance, American Beauties, Wild West, Barbie, Baseball, and History all explore quintessentially American themes and imagery. The exhibition includes more than 70 color photographs drawn from two recent gifts to SAAM. The exhibition is organized by Joanna Marsh, SAAM’s Deputy Education Chair, Head of Interpretation and Audience Research.

Visiting Information

Smithsonian American Art Museum

June 7, 2019 – October 14, 2019

Open daily, 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Free Admission

Tour Schedule

Gund Gallery at Kenyon College

Gambier, OH

August 28, 2020 – December 13, 2020

Dayton Art Institute

Dayton, OH

October 15, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Learn how to bring this exhibition to your institution

Videos

Credit

American Myth & Memory: David Levinthal Photographs is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum with generous support from the Margery and Edgar Masinter Exhibitions Fund, the William and Christine Ragland Family Photography Endowment, and the Bernie Stadiem Endowment Fund.

SAAM Stories

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Exhibitions

10/13/2019

The Puck Stops Here: David Levinthal's Hockey Photographs

Giving America's favorite pastime a run for its money

This is an image of a woman next to the Stanley Cup with the capital in the background.

Kari Jones

Video Assistant

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Exhibitions

08/21/2019

Dancing with the Spurs: On David Levinthal's Wild West Photographs

What does the "Cowboy Code" have to do with David Levinthal's photographs?

Shanti Boyle

Blog author in front of the David Levinthal image of Roberto Clemente

Exhibitions

07/09/2019

Pitch Perfect: On David Levinthal, Roberto Clemente, and Baseball

Anne Showalter, digital interpretation specialist at SAAM, reflects on David Levinthal's photo of Roberto Clemente, from the artist's baseball series.

Anne Showalter

Digital Interpretation Specialist

A photograph of a horse on it's back legs with a man next to it.

Exhibitions

06/04/2019

David Levinthal: Toying with the Past?

Populated with toy cowboys and cavalry, Barbie dolls and baseball players, David Levinthal’s photographs reference iconic images and events that shaped postwar American society.