Existing comment:
Marion B. Dunlevy on reproduction of Great Hall medallions
In 1829, Anne Newport Royall was convicted as a "common scold" in Washington, DC, after exposing government corruption in her political writing. This term refers to a gender-based misdemeanor offense historically used to silence "outspoken" women. Surprisingly, not until 1972 was the first American woman -- Marion B. Dunlevy of New Jersey -- exonerated of that same indictment.
Dunlevy's case was part of a neighborhood dispute. The medallion hanging above recognizes her fight to protect free speech for all women. It was placed here as part of The Mouth of the Scold, J.J. McCracken's performance about gender and speech in the Portrait Gallery's series "IDENTIFY: Performance Art as Portraiture."
J.J. McCracken
Gypsum cement and paint on foam, 2016
Courtesy CONNERSMITH |