A New Sculpture by Michael Byrne Celebrates Martha Graham's American Document

During his 2023 Dance Research Fellowship with the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, Michael Byrne researched the Martha Graham archives to learn more about Graham's iconic work, American Document. His research went into the proposal of a monument that displays dance film celebrating the 1938 choreography, and its message of democracy and freedom in the face of rising fascism in Europe. Clips Martha Graham, Erick Hawkins, and the Martha Graham Group led by May O'Donnell perform American Document in August, 1938. Record number: *MGZIA 4-3793. Martha Graham performing American Document with Erick Hawkins at Chicago Opera House, 1939, from the Ann Barzel dance research collection. Courtesy Newberry Library, Chicago.