EAT ART 4
Yan Kong
 

December 4, 2001, THE STARS AND STRIPES, A.I.R. Gallery, 40 Wooster Street, NYC 2003

The Stars amd Stripes

This EAT ART piece was created after September 11, 2001. Seeing Amercian flags were flown every where in New York City I began to research the many faces of American flags. The "Stars" were computer generated images which were cut-outs and shrink-wrapped for insertion within the food elements. The "Stripes" were created layer by layer with Knox geletin and food coloring.

20 examples of the United States flag symbols were represented here in food element (Knox Geletin, sugar, food coloring, Flavoring.) for a visual sampling of variations on a theme. For technical purpose, the dimensions, colors and the design of the American flag pieces have been made uniform and with artistic discretion.
The date of each flag only reflects the most significant year in a flag's history, not necessarily the year the flag was created.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Sons of Liberty Flag 1775
The Sons of Liberty, activists in defense of American rights, used this flag of 13 horizontal stripes to represent the unity of the Colonies. This flag probably inspired the stripes in Old Glory. Its red and white colors derived from the English flag.
2. New England Flag 1775
George Washington's military secretary, Col. Joseph Reed, proposed that all American ships fly the Massachusetts Navy flag. This "Americanized" version of the flag links a regional symbol, a New England pine, with the now familiar national colors.
3. Forster Flag 1776
According to Forster family tradition, this flag was captured from the British by Minutemen on April 19, 1775, the first day of the Revolution. White stripes then replaced its original canton; with the red background, they represented the 13 Colonies.
4. Continental Colors 1776
The British Union Jack on American's first national flag, in use during the early years of the Revolution, sent a clear message. Until the colonists proclaimed independence in July 1776, they were fighting for their rights as subjects of the King.
5. Francis Hopkinson Flag 1777
Continental Congress member Francis Hopkinson designed the first Stars and Stripes. His stars may have formed rows or a ring; the exact design is not known. In a resolution of June 14, 1777, they were said to represent "a new constellations."
6. Brandywine Flag 1777
In the Revolution, military units often had different flags (or no flags). Reputedly carried at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, this flag was one of the first with stars and stripes. New research indicates it may have been a militia color.
7. John Paul Jones Flag 1779
After John Paul Jones and the crew of Bonhomme Richard captured HMS Serapis on September 23, 1779, a Dutch artist painted a watercolor of this flag, which Jones had hoisted in victory. Blue was considered America's prime national color.
8. Pierre L'Enfant Flag 1783 the architect who would create the original plans for the nation's capital sketched this flag on a proposed membership diploma for the Society of the Cincinnati, a veterans' organization for officers of the Revolutionary War.
9. Indian Peace Flag 1803
The American government often presented the Stars and Stripes to friendly Indian nations. These "Indian Peace Flags" displayed the U.S. coat of arms and usually accompanied other gifts, including medals with words "peace and friendship."
10. Easton Flag 1814
During the War of 1812, patriotic citizens of Easton, Pennsylvania, presented this flag to their First Company, First Regiment of Volunteers. The striped canton and starry field of this design reversed the official placement of the stars and stripes.
11. Star-Spangled Banner 1814
After Vermont and Kentucky became states in 1795, two more stars were added. Two more stripes were also added. It became clear that adding stripes would make construction of a flag difficult, so the number of stripes for later flags was returned to the original thirteen. At Baltimore's Fort McHenry in 1814, the Star-Spangled Banner came under British fire in the War of 1812. Its "broad stripes and bright stars" inspired Francis Scott Key to write words that, set to music, later became the American national anthem.
12. Bennington Flag c.1820
Long believed to date from the Revolution, the Bennington Flag was possibly made between 1810 and 1830. It could have been created during the War of 1812, or in 1826 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Photo of Great Star missing
13. Great Star Flag 1837
An 1818 act established that the flag include a star for each state and 13 stripes. Capt. Samuel C. Reid, a naval hero of the War of 1812, recommended arranging the stars into one large star pattern, a common design in the 19th century.
14. 29-Star Flag 1847
In 1845, the diamond pattern became a standard on garrison flags, enormous versions of the Stars and Stripes flown at large Army posts. Such flags could be easily updated after new states were admitted; in 1847, the 29th star (for Iowa) was added.
15. Fort Sumter Flag 1861
This flag was flying over Charleston's Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, when the Civil War began. More than half a million brave men from North and South died before the very same flag was hoisted there again in 1865.
16. Centennial Flag 1876
Americans celebrated the Centennial with renewed faith in a nation stretching from Atlantic to Pacific and encouraging invention and industry. This unofficial flag, reflecting patriotic spirit, shows that Old Glory has always belonged to the people.
Photo of 38-Star missing
17. 38-Star Flag 1877
The unusual pattern of this 1877 design includes a star for Colorado, admitted as the 38th state on August 1, 1876. Until 1912, when rows of stars became standard, flagmakers could use imaginative designs to accommodate new stars
18. Peace Flag 1891
Using their First Amendment rights, Americans have enthusiastically pursued religious, social, and political goals and modified the flag to show commitment to country and cause. Dedication to world peace was once symbolized by this flag.
19. 48-Star Flag 1912
This version of Old Glory was official from 1912 to 1959 the longest period any fixed star pattern has been used. Americans saluted this flag during two World Wars, the growth decades of the 1921s and 1950s, and the Great Depression.
20. 50-Star Flag 1960
When the 50th star (for Hawaii) was added on July 4, 1960, our current Stars and Stripes was born. The U.S. flag stands for our Constitution and the American way of life, as well as our past achievements and dreams for the future.
 
Back to Top