Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag Book

The Revolutionary Congress resolved in 1777 that "the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 white stars in a blue field representing a new constellation." Since that time, the American flag has been raised high in wartime triumph and peacetime celebration; burned in fervent protest; sewn lovingly onto quilts, caps, pillows, and bags; appropriated by the commercial sphere to sell goods as varied as cigars, designer clothing, and rock-and-roll albums; and faithfully honored every 4th of July to celebrate America's independence. Far from being a static symbol, though, the flag has been subjected to countless graphic interpretations over its 223-year history, each version owing more to the personality of the maker than to established formal conventions. And nowhere are these continual changes better viewed than in the collection of over 3,000 Stars and Stripes artifacts amassed by graphic designer Kit Hinrichs, partner in the international design consultancy Pentagram. On exhibit in 2000 at the American Institute of Graphic Arts in New York and at the San Jose Museum of Art, Hinrichs's collection was hailed as a marvel of folk history and a time capsule of cultural commentary. The collection ranges from Civil War-era banners and Native American braided moccasins to an early 20th-century "friendship" kimono and original flag art by several of world's leading designers. In its deluxe format and over 500 illustrations, LONG MAY SHE WAVE gives wide berth to the flag in all its manifestations, and the result is a stunning visual history of America's most treasured symbol.Read More