Pledges of Allegiance
By Margaret A. Keough
Pledges of Allegiance Brings the Flags of Nationwide Artists to M-AAA Headquarters
In February 2018, M-AAA began participating in Pledges of Allegiance, an initiative of Creative Time. Pledges of Allegiance is a serialized commission of sixteen flags, each created by acclaimed artists. Conceived in response to the current political climate, Pledges of Allegiance aims to inspire a sense of community among cultural institutions, and begin articulating the urgent response our political moment demands.
Each flag points to an issue the artist is passionate about, a cause they believe is worth fighting for, and speaks to how we might move forward collectively. Exhibited artists at M-AAA include Alex Da Corte, Jeremy Deller, Latoya Ruby Frazier, Vik Muniz, Ahmet Ögüt, Trevor Paglen, Pedro Reyes, and Rirkrit Tiravanija.
We conclude with Josephine Meckseper, Untitled (Flag 2), newly installed for the Fourth of July. The flag is a collage of an American flag and fragments of an earlier work of hers entitled “Goodbye to Language.” A black-dripped color field resembles a United States map, divided in two. The black and white sock takes on a more symbolic meaning of polarization, but also stands for creating a dialogue about our collective future and the one of our planet. If you are in Kansas City, please stop by and see it before the project concludes July 31.
(Installing Latoya Ruby Frazier’s Flint, 1,105 Days and Counting Man-Made Water Crisis; Vik Muinz, Diaspora Cloud)
