Sheila E. in Concert: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black-and-white photograph of Sheila Escovedo, known as Sheila E., performing.

The image is a close up of Sheila E., with part of her head and torso out of frame. She wears a floral printed, one-sleeved garment, a necklace with small pendant, and large, diamond-shaped earrings. She holds up a microphone with her proper left hand, which is partially visible along the right side of the image. Her mouth is open mid-song. Parts of the image are slightly out of focus, as if she is moving. On the verso is an adhesive label with the Eyejammie.com logo and [Title: Sheila E. in Concert / Photographer: Harry Allen] printed in black text.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: early 1980s
• Photograph by: Harry Allen, American, born 1964
• Subject of: Sheila E., American, born 1957
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 13 15/16 × 10 7/8 in. (35.4 × 27.7 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 12 7/8 × 8 5/8 in. (32.7 × 21.9 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Popular music
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2015.132.53
• 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 underlying object's rights statement is: © Harry Allen Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.