Artwork
Milk
Artist
Ed Saavedra
(American, born 1979)
DepartmentContemporary Art
Date2009
MediumAcrylic on canvas
Dimensions60 x 48 in. (152.4 x 121.9 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of art, gift of Dr. Raphael Guerra and Sandra Castro-Guerra
Object number2011.24
Copyright© Ed Saavedra
DescriptionPortrait of a smiling man wearing a golden yellow coat and striped tie against a blue background.Label Text"My work is inextricably informed by my interest in
social justice and individual liberty. Aside from
achieving a simple tribute, painting portraits has
been an effective way for me to draw attention to the
lives and ideals of people whose stories have somehow
been obscured."
Ed Saavedra
Although Harvey Milk (1930-78) has become recognized globally, due in part to the success of his portrayal by the actor Sean Penn in the 2009 film Milk, Saavedra wanted to create a portrait that captured the humanity of the real Milk, as opposed to the popular movie version. The first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, Milk served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from January 9 through November 27, 1978, when he and Mayor George Moscone were both assassinated by former city Supervisor Dan White. Shortly before the assassination, White had resigned from his post as Supervisor, and his fury grew when the Mayor denied his request to be reinstated.
Saavedra based his portrait on a photograph of Milk by Daniel Nicoletta, which also served as the inspiration for a bust created by the Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture Group for the rotunda of the San Francisco City Hall. Saavedra's sensitive palette and brush handling accentuate Milk's inner glow, reflecting the gentle charisma for which he was known. For the artist, this painted tribute constitutes an affirmation of freedom over repression and homophobia.
(David Rubin, Label Text 2012)Not on view
Collections
Alma Nungarrayi Granites
Culture: Aboriginal Australians (Warlpiri language group)
2007
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
