Project Details

Joining in the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, this exhibit at the Briscoe Center for American History invites visitors to consider how symbols of the nation have evolved over time, and how historical records reflect changing American identity. The entrance to the exhibit is defined by a pair of supergraphics on the main gallery’s pivot walls. Inspired by an artifact in the show illustrating the classic American ‘melting pot’ symbol, red and blue stripes slowly melt down the walls, gradually losing their rigidity and blending into purple at the base of the graphic. Throughout the exhibit, shades of purple act as a neutral backdrop for artifacts sporting vivid shades of red and blue, complementing both and unifying them into a cohesive history of the nation’s symbols.

The exhibit is loosely divided into eight free-flowing thematic sections, which overlap in their examination of the different ways in which Americans have chosen to celebrate, communicate, and critique American ideals. The sections intentionally blend into one another, reinforcing the multitude of connections between the symbols and ideas that characterize American history. Artifacts at the border of each section relate to the themes of the adjacent sections, offering multiple interpretations of a single object. The positions of the artifact cases and partition walls allow visitors to circulate around them in multiple different directions; visitors can choose their own path through the exhibit, exploring its contents from multiple viewpoints.

Objects from over two dozen collections are included in the exhibit, including busts of the Founding Fathers from the StudioEIS Archive and artifacts from the Dr. Whitney Smith Flag Research Center Collection. The exhibit includes several custom-fabricated elements that support and highlight the individual qualities of certain artifacts. Shipping crates were repurposed as plinths for the StudioEIS busts, placing the figures at eye level with visitors. The busts have been positioned to ‘look’ at other artifacts in the show, underscoring the ways in which the past continues to influence our point of view. A double-sided acrylic case displays both faces of an improvised US flag made during the French Liberation of World War II.