Michelle Echenique
Artist
My American Flags

In mid 2020, steeped in the unavoidable politics surrounding the pandemic, racial justice, economic equity and the presidential election comes a brand new series using the potent symbol of the American flag as a jumping-off point. The apparent conflict between what the star spangled banner purported to stand for and reality begged for exploration. It seemed a symbol of patriotism for only a subset of citizens and was associated with a certain mindset and particular opinions.
In hindsight I can see seeds of this preoccupation in past work. Here, I began work reflecting on my evolving and diverse feelings about this country, using the structure and colors of the star-bangled banner. "My American Flags" explores truths not so self evident.
Cardboard Collage
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Assemblage
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