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Museum object · Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements

Signed advertisement for Essex Hemphill and Wayson Jones performance

1985

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A black-and-white advertisement signed by Essex Hemphill and Wayson Jones advertising their poetry and music collaboration titled "Earth Life" at the d.c. space music venue in downtown Washington, DC. Advertisement consists of a halftone offset lithograph on medium weight wove paper that is mounted on polystyrene foam board. Advertisement is dominated by a portrait of Hemphill and Jones standing in front of a brick wall. Hemphill, left, smokes a cigarette. At right, Jones stands in a light button-down shirt. Photograph is by Daniel Cima. Advertisement is signed on Jones' shirt: over his right shirt is [to Ron Simmons / My blessings / Essex Hemphill / 8-20-85] and over his chest is [to Ron / Peace, brother / Wayson Jones / 8-20-85]. There are no marks on the back.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2018.103.2

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