Old Glory

Nevada Museum of Art
160 West Liberty Street
Reno

October 25, 2008 - February 22, 2009
Feature Gallery / South
Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag


Arguably one of the most recognizable icons in the world today, the American flag has enjoyed a long history of graphic renderings and artistic re-interpretations. Although the Continental Congress agreed in 1777 that the United States flag should be comprised of stars and stripes in red, white, and blue, more than a century passed without formal design regulations—yielding a wealth of exuberant and unbridled creative manifestations of the national banner.

From Civil War-era flags and Native American moccasins to political campaign buttons and original flag art, Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag assembles nearly 5,000 American flag-related objects and artifacts from the private collection of Kit Hinrichs, one of the world’s leading graphic designers and a partner in the international design firm, Pentagram. Together, the range of objects and memorabilia presented in Long May She Wave comprise their own genre of folk art and are a unique part of the American heritage—revealing the history, culture, and political climate of the United States.


[image from NMA Web site. Caption: "Thirty-Six-Star Flag, circa 1865, wool bunting with cotton stars. Collection of Kit Hinrichs."]