She Who Must Be Obeyed

Tony Smith, She Who Must Be Obeyed, 1975, assembled and painted fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1979.159.21
Tony Smith, She Who Must Be Obeyed, 1975, assembled and painted fiberboard, 20 5830 3411 12 in. (52.378.129.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1979.159.21

Artwork Details

Title
She Who Must Be Obeyed
Artist
Date
1975
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
20 5830 3411 12 in. (52.378.129.2 cm)
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program
Mediums
Mediums Description
assembled and painted fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
  • General Services Administration — Art-in-Architecture Program
Object Number
1979.159.21

Artwork Description

In March 1974 the General Services Administration commissioned Tony Smith to make a sculpture for the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C. A few months later the artist was ready to present this maquette to the GSA Design Review Panel for final approval. Smith was concerned with getting the model safely from his studio in New Jersey to Washington, and carefully wrapped it and carried it like "a newborn child" (Thalacker, The Place of Art in the World of Architecture, 1980). The maquette had its own seat on the plane and arrived safely at National Airport. Smith hailed a taxi, and the driver, insisting that the model would be safer in the trunk than on the seat, slammed the trunk lid on one of its edges. Despite the damage to the model, the GSA panelists unanimously approved his design. Smith often titled his pieces after literary works, and this maquette was named after the central character in H. Rider Haggard's 1887 novel She. The completed sculpture was installed in 1976 and measures 30 by 24 by 8 feet.

Works by this artist (1 item)

Tony Smith, She Who Must Be Obeyed, 1975, assembled and painted fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1979.159.21
She Who Must Be Obeyed
Date1975
assembled and painted fiberboard
Not on view

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Nancy Holt, Maquette for Annual Ring, 1980, mixed media: assembled plexiglass, press tape, fiberboard, paperboard and wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1984.13.2
Maquette for Annual Ring
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Athena Tacha, Model for Ripples, 1979, mixed media: wax, polystyrene foam, paper and fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1980.49.12
Model for Ripples
Date1979
mixed media: wax, polystyrene foam, paper and fiberboard
Not on view
Athena Tacha, Maquette for Ripples, 1979, paperboard and polystyrene foam mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1980.49.13
Maquette for Ripples
Date1979
paperboard and polystyrene foam mounted on fiberboard
Not on view