Rob Hammer's 'American Backcourts' exhibition opens at Scottsdale museum
By Allison Kotzbauer
Posted 9/19/24
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West recently opened “Rob Hammer: American Backcourts” on Aug. 26, a new photography exhibition about the intersection of basketball and …
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Rob Hammer's 'American Backcourts' exhibition opens at Scottsdale museum
Courtesy of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
A photo by Rob Hammer featured in his exhibition, American Backcourts, in Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Posted
If You Go
What: Rob Hammer: American Backcourts
When: Through April 13, 2025
Where: Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale
Other featured exhibits on View Now: Veryl Goodnight: Sled Dogs in America: Alaska & Beyond, Women of the Southwest: A Legacy of Painting, Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection, People, Places, Predicaments: John Clymer's West, and more.
More info: https://westernspirit.org
By Allison Kotzbauer
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West recently opened “Rob Hammer: American Backcourts” on Aug. 26, a new photography exhibition about the intersection of basketball and the American West.
The exhibition highlights Hammer’s striking photographs of makeshift basketball courts across the Western U.S., capturing their unique role in local communities, according to a news release.
The exhibition features over 13 years of Hammer’s photography, showcasing rustic basketball courts and exploring their symbolic connection to the pioneering spirit of the American West.
This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on how basketball, often seen as an urban sport, reflects the resilience and creativity of Western communities, connecting viewers to the region's unique cultural landscape.
The exhibition’s significance lies in its portrayal of how a simple basketball hoop embodies the spirit and resilience of Western communities.
The exhibition reveals how even the most modest basketball courts can symbolize the deep connection and perseverance of Western communities, according to Chief Curator, Andrew Patrick Nelson.
“Rob Hammer’s photography offers a captivating and unexpected vision of the modern West, where a lone basketball hoop can stand as a symbol of grit and community,” Nelson stated.
The exhibition also marks Hammer’s first solo museum show, highlighting over a decade of travel and photography that captures the essence of basketball’s unexpected role in rural Western settings.
“This project has truly been a labor of love, and I’m thrilled to share it with the world at Western Spirit,” Hammer stated in the release.
The exhibition is on view at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, located in Old Town Scottsdale, through April 13, 2025.
The exhibition is presented by Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, a renowned cultural institution known for its vibrant displays and commitment to celebrating the diverse heritage of the American West.
The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Monday (September 16 – May) and Thursday (May – October) from 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Thursday (November – April) from 9:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. -5 p.m.
