Explore Black History

2009

Length of commemorative printed textile by Shine Shine featuring graphic portraits of Michelle Obama surrounded by floral vines. The fabric has a mint green ground with a background print of a leafy floral vines with orange leaves, maroon flowers, and light brown vines. The design is oriented so that there is a middle section and two side sections, with the side sections mirroring each other. In the middle section the floral vine consists of blooming and bud roses. In the side sections the floral vine consists of orange fluffy petal flowers with bulbous burgundy centers. At each selvedge there is a scalloped border with a burgundy ground with small black polka dots edged in orange. Large orange fringe hangs from the upper edge of the border in front of the burgundy ground and orange edging. Printed above the border as if driving on it is an orange stretch limousine with black highlights in profile. Black text printed on the side doors reads "Shine Shine" with a black five-pointed star between the words. Above each of the cars is a drawn portrait of Michelle Obama above the chest smiling and waving with her left hand. She wears an orange shirt with burgundy collar and buttons, and a pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet. Above the portrait is a pair of orange sunglasses with black lenses that are closed. Next to the car and portrait of Obama waving is a full-body drawn portrait of Obama seated with her feet tucked under her and her right arm draped over the back of a white leopard with black spots that is standing. Obama is smiling and speaking into the headpiece of a white telephone she holds in her left hand. She wears an orange sleeveless short nightgown, burgundy shoes, and pearl earrings. The leopard has its mouth open showing fangs with its head turned toward Obama's. An orange banner with black text is printed below the portrait that reads "DON'T STAND IN MY LIGHT". Above the portrait are printed a pair of burgundy gloves with black topstitching detail. The center section of the fabric contains the full-body portrait of Obama with the leopard oriented sideways. The portrait alternates with an orange outlined circle with a burgundy ground containing the same pair of closed orange sunglasses with black lenses. Text printed in black inside the orange border reads "NEVER GO TO BED WITHOUT WASHING YOUR DISHES". The designer's name "Shine Shine" is printed in black on one selvedge.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Textiles and Quilts

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2017.16.6

textiles
portraits

Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

cotton

H x W: 61 13/16 × 76 3/8 in. (157 × 194 cm)
Horizontal Repeat: 25 3/16 in. (64 cm)

Object Name • Commemorative textile with portraits of Michelle Obama surrounded by flowers

nmaahc_2017.16.6

NMAAHC

COMMEMORATIVE TEXTILE WITH PORTRAITS OF MICHELLE OBAMA SURROUNDED BY FLOWERS

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2000s

Shine Shine • Robinson Obama, Michelle LaVaughn

Cape Town • South Africa • Western Cape

African diaspora • Design • Politics • U.S. History, 2001- • Group identity • Textiles

African Americans • Africans

City • Cape Town • State • Western Cape • Country • South Africa • Continent • Africa

Portraits • Textiles

Unknown - Restrictions Possible