In Asian/American: Historical Crossings of a Racial Frontier, David Palumbo-Liu uses "Asian America" to, "designate certain historical reformulations of modern America, both as it has modified itself with regard to Asia and as Asians in America have variously affected its refiguration." Pulling together representations of Asian America, this collection considers how understandings of America change in relationship to Asia.
The resources in the collection explore art from the turn-of-the-20th century when trade between Japan and the West reopened, art produced through the Works Progress Administration depicting Asian labor in America, art about Japanese internment and Hiroshima, and art about the Vietnam-American War. The art in the collection spans the 20th century and explores themes of Asian/American identity, experience, historical amnesia/memory, and diaspora.
This learning collection features selected objects, images, prints, paintings, and photographs from the University of Michigan Museum of Art’s collection designed to support educators in the history and social studies classroom. The “American History Abridged” provides highlighted objects and images from United States history, while the other collections feature specialized objects based on specific historical periods. When possible, the distinct historical learning collections include artwork created only during that era rather than works created later the depict earlier events. Some collections also contain contemporary works of art from artists like Kara Walker or Glenn Ligon that incorporate historical themes, subjects, and methodology in their work.
Richard Wilt Chart for Vietnam, No. 2 acrylic on canvas 36 in. x 48 in. ( 91.4 cm x 121.9 cm ) Gift of Ron and Judy Milestone
Richard Wilt Chart for Vietnam, No. 2 acrylic on canvas 30 in. x 48 in. ( 76.2 cm x 121.9 cm ) Gift of Ron and Judy Milestone
Michael Joseph Diptych on Vietnam (one of two) collage on panel 22 in. x 5 ft. 10 in. x 2 in. (55.88 x 177.8 x 5.08 cm) Gift of H. David Zucca
Michael Joseph Diptych on Vietnam (two of two) paint on panel 3 ft. 11 13/16 in. x 5 ft. 10 5/16 in. x 2 in. (121.29 x 178.44 x 5.08 cm) Gift of H. David Zucca
Roy Arenella Peace March gelatin silver print on paper 6 x 9 in. ( 15.24 x 22.86 cm ) Gift from the Collection of David S. Rosen MD, MPH
Richard Hamilton Kent State screenprint on paper 28 11/16 in. x 40 1/16 in. ( 72.8 cm x 101.7 cm ) Gift of Graham and Marianne Smith
Jack Youngerman C-4 brush and ink on white paper 23 1/8 x 28 in. (58.7 x 71 cm) Museum Purchase
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi An Empire of Silly Statistics...A Fake War for Public Relations photolithograph on paper 14 15/16 in x 10 in (38 cm x 25.4 cm);14 3/8 in x 19 3/8 in (36.51 cm x 49.21 cm) Gift of Professor Diane M. Kirkpatrick
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi Pig or Person, it's the same, Fortune plays a funny game photolithograph on paper 14 15/16 in x 10 in (37.94 cm x 25.4 cm) Gift of Professor Diane M. Kirkpatrick
Robert Rauschenberg Test Stone #3 from BOOSTER AND 7 STUDIES color lithograph on paper 23 9/16 in x 31 3/10 in (59.85 cm x 79.53 cm);32 1/16 in x 39 15/16 in (81.44 cm x 101.44 cm) Gift of the Marvin Felheim Collection
Garry Winogrand New York City gelatin silver print on paper 9 1/16 in x 13 7/16 in (23.02 cm x 34.13 cm) Gift of Stanley T. Lesser, A.B. 1951, J.D. 1953