Artist Statement

American Expressions is a social experiment, political awakening, and artistic representation of expression through an 8-foot by 16-foot steel sculpture of an American flag. The American Expressions flag was toured throughout the United States in the months leading up to the 2016 presidential election. By allowing people to write directly on the flag, it became a document of their encounters and a place of expression for the people of our nation. It was a journey promoting freedom and compassion. Upon traveling to the next destination, the flag was repainted, absorbing the expressions of the previous community, weaving thousands of voices together. The literal act of repainting the flag is a metaphor for the cooperation and effort needed by everyone to rejuvenate our country. This artwork is truly public art that engages. When the flag is beleaguered and looks much like our political reality, we can go repaint it. Through cooperation, compassion, and applied effort, the flag can look great again–just like our nation.

www.irahillsculpture.com

Image Gallery

Continue on the Sculpture Tour by choosing a number below (you are at 11)

Gregory Johnson (Georgia, b. 1955) WHAT’S IN THE QUEUE?, 2017 Mirror-finished high-chromium stainless steel on powder-coated stainless steel base

12. Gregory Johnson, WHAT’S IN THE QUEUE

Ira Hill (Alabama, b. 1974) American Expressions, ongoing, originated in 2011 Fabricated steel and paint

11. Ira Hill, American Expressions

Steve Rossi (New York, b. 1975) Reciprocal Ladder to Intersect, 2016 Wood and acrylic latex

10. Steve Rossi, Reciprocal Ladder to Intersect

Ben Lock (North Carolina, b. 1980) Rubber Burner, 2011 Steel, chrome lugnuts, convex mirror, wheel, tire, chrome hubcap, gray primer, Chrysler Hemi Orange paint

9. Ben Lock, Rubber Burner

Eric Troffkin (Michigan, b. 1967) Communications Vine, ongoing, originated in 2014 Fiberglass and steel

8. Eric Troffkin, Communications Vine

Stacey Rathert (Mississippi, b. 1987) You Are Here, 2013

7. Stacey Rathert, You Are Here

Submitted photo: Kurt Dyrhaug (Texas, b. 1966) Combine Wing II, 2017 Steel and wood

6. Kurt Dyrhaug, Combine Wing II

Adam Walls (North Carolina, b. 1974) Ker-Plunk, 2008 Painted steel

5. Adam Walls, Ker-Plunk

Matthias Neumann (New York, b. 1969) Double-bench VI (basics), 2017 Wood (2 x 4s)

4. Matthias Neumann, Double-bench VI (basics)

Fumi Amano (Washington, b. 1985) Voice, 2017 Old window frames, wood, and sheet glass

3. Fumi Amano, Voice

Benjamin Jones (Massachusetts, b. 1978) Eventually/Everything, 2015 Steel, aluminum, plywood, linear urethane enamel, lights, custom electronics

2. Benjamin Jones, Eventually/Everything

Hye Yeon Nam (Louisiana, b. 1979) Floating Identity, 2017 Plexiglas and silicone (kinetic sculpture)

1. Hye Yeon Nam, Floating Identity in Auburn

Leave a Reply