Poster for the film Space is the Place: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A multi-colored paper poster for the musical film Space is the Place featuring Sun Ra and the Arkestra. Sun Ra is depicted in the center of the poster wearing a headdress and collar resembling that of an Egyptian pharaoh. The headdress is topped by a large golden orb with long extensions on either side. On either side of Ra is a yellow and red flaming sun. Above and below him are the words [SUN RA / IN / SPACE IS THE PLACE] small planets are scattered among the lettering. At the top of the poster in dotted white print is [A NORTH AMERICAN STAR SYSTEM PRODUCTION] and black-and-white photo silohuettes of six performers/musicians from the film. The poster is set against a dark blue field with musical notes floating among a spattering of white and blue stars (dots). Towards the bottom is a scene of palm trees, pyramids, cacti, and a spaceship structure. In the bottom yellow border of the poster, in small black print is cast and producer list: [with Ray Johnson Christopher Brooks Barbara Deloney Erika Leder Morgan UptonWalter Burns John Bailey Clarence Brewer Sinthia AyalaLa shaa Stallings / and the Intergalactic Myth-Science Solar Arkestra featuring John Gilmore and June TysonScreenplay by Joshua Smith / Produced by James Newman Directed by John ConeyA Film from North American Star System in Cooperation with El Saturn Research]. There are no markings on the reverse of the poster.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1974
• Published by: North American Star System Production, American
• Subject of: Sun Ra, American, 1914 - 1993
• Subject of: The Sun Ra Arkestra, American
• Type: posters
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: H x W: 20 7/8 × 17 3/16 in. (53 × 43.7 cm)
• Place made: United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Design
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Graphic design
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Object number: 2020.26.36
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: Public domain Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.