“We have observed that the street protests, social media organizing and grassroots activism taking place across America in response to the policies of the Trump administration are rooted in a love for our country, our Constitution and our flag,” starts the statement from R & Company about Our Flag: Design Stands Together,” opening May 1, with all profits going to the ACLU. “In this spirit, R & Company has invited a range of designers and their New York galleries to create a unique piece for exhibition and sale, referencing directly or indirectly the design or colors of the American flag. United in theme, the visual impact of these works will offer a powerful statement from our design community.” The exhibit was inspired by Richard Marquis, who, in the late 1960s, “crafted a series of murrine glass acid capsules depicting the American flag as a commentary [see above; photo courtesy the artist]. Examples from this series are in the Corning Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Marquis continued to use American flag imagery in his glass art, including a series of teapots, one of which is included in the exhibition.”
The list of designers is impressive (their galleries are in parentheses): Ali Tayar; Anat Shiftan (Hostler Burrows, formerly of Franklin Street); Anne Fisher (R & Company); Charles Meyers; Chris Wolston (Patrick Parrish, on Lispenard); Cody Hoyt (Patrick Parrish); The Haas Brothers (R & Company); Jeff Zimmerman (R & Company); Johnny Swing (R & Company); Katie Stout (R & Company); Kelly Behun; Lindsey Adelman; Lucas Maassen (Kinder Modern, co-founded by Tribecan Lora Appleton); Michelle Oka Doner; Richard Marquis; Roberto Lugo (Wexler Gallery); Rogan Gregory (R & Company); Sebastian Errazuriz; Cristina Grajales; Ted Muehling (on White Street); and Thaddeus Wolfe (R & Company).
The exhibit runs through June 15, and there’s an opening event on May 1 (6-8 p.m.). Here are a few works in the show; photographs by Joe Kramm for R & Company.
By Kelly Behun: