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Mound Magician

Radcliffe Bailey1997

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Kansas City, Missouri, United States

At the center of the fan-shaped baseball diamond that Mound Magician represents, and marking the pitcher's mound, the number "25" is emblazoned on a star. The number belongs to Satchel Paige, the pitcher who led the Kansas City Monarchs to five Negro League pennants, joined the major leagues and was the first player from the Negro League to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mound Magician is rich with symbolism: photographs of Negro League baseball, references to African countries and southern American cities, footprints running the bases, stamped patterns associated with Bailey's grandfather's wrought iron workshop, baseballs and vèvè, or Voodoo symbols. This assemblage also includes medicine bundles inspired by traditional African power objects believed to affect the outcome of specific events.

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  • Title: Mound Magician
  • Creator: Radcliffe Bailey
  • Creator Lifespan: b. 1968
  • Creator Nationality: American
  • Date Created: 1997
  • Physical Dimensions: w4267.2 x h2919.98 x d661.42 ft (Unframed)
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: Purchase: gift of the Unus Foundation and Marc and Elizabeth Wilson in honor of John J. "Buck" O'Neil © 1997 Radcliffe Bailey, © 1997 Radcliffe Bailey
  • Medium: Paint, canvas, paper, wood, cardboard, cloth, Plexiglas, baseballs, feathers, and other media on plywood
  • Culture: American
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Additional Items

Mound Magician (Supplemental)

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