In the aftermath of January 6, when rioters carrying Confederate flags stormed the Capitol, and in the following days, when custodial and maintenance staff worked to put it back together, I've been thinking so much about the work of artist Sonya Clark @syclarkart 1/
On the 150th anniversary of Lee's surrender (2015), Clark began the painstaking work of unraveling a Confederate battle flag thread by thread in her Richmond, VA studio. This later became a participatory performance, inviting others to join her in museums and galleries. 2/
When I taught an Art & Material Culture of the American Civil War @ 150 class, we discussed the dishtowel used as a surrender flag at Appomattox, what's now called the Flag of Truce. In 2019, Clark's exhibition at @fabricworkshop transformed that flag to monumental scale... 3/
When I taught an Art & Material Culture of the American Civil War @ 150 class, we discussed the dishtowel used as a surrender flag at Appomattox, what's now called the Flag of Truce. In 2019, Clark's exhibition at @fabricworkshop transformed that flag to monumental scale... 3/
When I taught an Art & Material Culture of the American Civil War @ 150 class, we discussed the dishtowel used as a surrender flag at Appomattox, what's now called the Flag of Truce. In 2019, Clark's exhibition at @fabricworkshop transformed that flag to monumental scale... 3/
The exhibition asked: what if THIS were the flag & symbol that endured, not the Confederate battle flag? In Lesson Plan (Confederate Truce Flag), visitors were invited to site in historic school desks, creating rubbings of the Truce flag and multiplying its image 4/
The exhibition asked: what if THIS were the flag & symbol that endured, not the Confederate battle flag? In Lesson Plan (Confederate Truce Flag), visitors were invited to site in historic school desks, creating rubbings of the Truce flag and multiplying its image 4/
The exhibition asked: what if THIS were the flag & symbol that endured, not the Confederate battle flag? In Lesson Plan (Confederate Truce Flag), visitors were invited to site in historic school desks, creating rubbings of the Truce flag and multiplying its image 4/
The exhibition asked: what if THIS were the flag & symbol that endured, not the Confederate battle flag? In Lesson Plan (Confederate Truce Flag), visitors were invited to site in historic school desks, creating rubbings of the Truce flag and multiplying its image 4/
With "Reconstruction," gallery attendants helped visitors learn to use looms to reweave multiple copies of the Truce flag as well. 5/
With "Reconstruction," gallery attendants helped visitors learn to use looms to reweave multiple copies of the Truce flag as well. 5/
With "Reconstruction," gallery attendants helped visitors learn to use looms to reweave multiple copies of the Truce flag as well. 5/
Most breathtaking was "Reversals," performance & installation: Clark donned attire similar to that worn by Ella Watson in Gordon Parks's famous photograph American Gothic. Clark knelt and, using a dishcloth emblazoned with the Confederate battle flag, carefully cleaned the floor6
... where dust & detritus gathered from Philadelphia historic sites (eg Independence Hall) had been scattered. Clark's careful cleaning revealed the preamble from the Declaration of Independence ("We hold these truths...")... 7/
... where dust & detritus gathered from Philadelphia historic sites (eg Independence Hall) had been scattered. Clark's careful cleaning revealed the preamble from the Declaration of Independence ("We hold these truths...")... 7/
... where dust & detritus gathered from Philadelphia historic sites (eg Independence Hall) had been scattered. Clark's careful cleaning revealed the preamble from the Declaration of Independence ("We hold these truths...")... 7/
... a moving (& patriotic) update to Mierle Laderman Ukeles's Maintenance work (seen here images from 1973 @TheWadsworth) 8/
... a moving (& patriotic) update to Mierle Laderman Ukeles's Maintenance work (seen here images from 1973 @TheWadsworth) 8/
... a moving (& patriotic) update to Mierle Laderman Ukeles's Maintenance work (seen here images from 1973 @TheWadsworth) 8/
As we witness the final hours of this corrupt and corrupting administration and face the hard task to come of working together towards a more perfect union, I'm reminded of Clark's practice & historic examples of labor and care. Thanks to all who are working make the US better.
You can follow @ElleryFoutch.
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