Tom Sweet, Sculptor

Creation Date

Sculpture creation date: 1993

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Description

Black and white photograph of a tall, painted totem-pole-like sculpture standing in a wooded clearing. The photograph shows the sculpture "Untitled," by Tom Sweet, 1993, a cartoonish polychrome totem pole signed "TOM SWEET 8/29/93," rising from a rectangular base on uneven ground in Whitefield, Maine. The pole features stacked, exaggerated anthropomorphic animal figures, including a large bird with outstretched wings at the top and several wide-eyed creatures and fish shapes below, all carved in a simplified style. Bare deciduous trees and evergreens fill the background, and there are no people present. Because the sculpture imitates the form and imagery of Northwest Coast Indigenous totem poles without belonging to those cultures, it raises concerns about cultural appropriation, which occurs when culturally specific symbols and ceremonial art are copied, simplified, or used decoratively by outsiders without permission, context, or benefit to the originating communities. Such use can misrepresent sacred or culturally important forms, reinforce stereotypes, and obscure the histories and rights of the Native peoples whose traditions are being borrowed. 1994. Unidentified photographer. (See p16955-p16958)(NA4800.)

Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) (1990-1995) was a nationwide survey that ran from 1990-1995 documenting America’s outdoor sculpture. Established in 1990, SOS! helped educate local communities about America’s endangered sculptural heritage. The Maine Arts Commission was one of 106 organizations to participate in this survey.

Topic

Folk art, Sculpture

Collection

MF161

Series Number

NA4800

Identifier

p16955

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.

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Save Outdoor Sculpture

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Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted