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Esperanza Spalding

National Portrait Gallery

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Object Details

Artist
Sandrine Lee, born 1972
Sitter
Esperanza Spalding, born 1984
Exhibition Label
Born Portland, Oregon
Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding electrified the Grammy Awards in 2011 when she won honors as Best New Artist. Having been inspired by Yo-Yo Ma as a child, she played several different stringed instruments before settling on the bass when she was in high school. She released her first album, Junjo, in 2006. Her sixth release, Exposure, was created over seventy-seven consecutive hours, a process that she livestreamed on Facebook in September 2017. Spalding’s musical roots reflect her rich cultural heritage: Her father is African American; her mother is Welsh, Native American, and Hispanic; and she herself sings in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Sandrine Lee’s photograph shows the musician in an old railroad station in Connecticut. In interviews, Spalding has emphasized that music does not only happen in recording studios and concert halls, but also in more intimate, everyday spaces, like the one shown here.
Nacida en Portland, Oregon
La bajista de jazz y cantante Esperanza Spalding electrificó los premios Grammy en 2011 cuando ganó la distinción a la Mejor Nueva Artista. Habiéndose inspirado en Yo-Yo Ma de niña, tocó varios instrumentos de cuerda distintos antes de decidirse por el bajo cuando estaba en la escuela secundaria. Lanzó su primer álbum, Junjo, en 2006. Su sexto estreno, Exposure, fue creado a lo largo de setenta y siete horas consecutivas que transmitió en vivo por Facebook en septiembre de 2017. Las raíces musicales de Spalding reflejan su rica herencia cultural: su padre es afroamericano; su madre es galesa, indígena e hispana; y la propia artista canta en inglés, español y portugués. La fotografía de Sandrine Lee muestra a la artista en una antigua estación de ferrocarril de Connecticut. En entrevistas, Spalding ha puesto de relieve que la música no sólo ocurre en estudios de grabación y salas de concierto, sino también en espacios más íntimos y cotidianos, como se ve aquí.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Sandrine Lee
2010 (printed 2012)
Object number
C/NPG.2012.42
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Photograph
Medium
Digitally exposed chromogenic print
Dimensions
Image: 40.5 x 61 cm (15 15/16 x 24")
Sheet: 50.7 x 71.2 cm (19 15/16 x 28 1/16")
Mat: 66 x 81.3 cm (26 x 32")
Place
United States\Connecticut
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Music\Musical instrument\Violin
Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pencil
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Bench
Music\Sheet music
Music\Musical instrument\Cello
Interior\Train station
Esperanza Spalding: Female
Esperanza Spalding: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician
Esperanza Spalding: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer
Esperanza Spalding: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz
Esperanza Spalding: Grammy
Portrait
Record ID
npg_C_NPG.2012.42
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4f238680a-347f-4d05-9f04-be717317dfdf

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