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Museum object · Clothing - Costume

Purple star costume designed by Sun Ra and worn by Arkestra members

early 1990s

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A poncho-style stage costume designed by Sun Ra. Poncho is comprised of several different cuts of synthetic fabrics stitched together with decorative fabric patches sewed on top. The design depicts shooting stars in sequined fabric trailed by swathes of shiny, lamé-evoking fabric on a rich purple background fabric. Collar, hem, and lining are a pink-purple fabric. One section of the purple fabric has detached along a seam line, approximately five inches long, under the star at proper right.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2021.52.2

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