In Italy I thought a lot about describing things; I was constantly doing it for Fellows about my life in New York and for friends and family about my temporary life in Italy. There’s always something lost in a description of a thing, and maybe (hopefully), when that thing is actually shown, it can acquire the animation and charm of a good description. I made two drawings at the Civitella Ranieri Center called Sculpture Of A Flag. One is of a ream of 9”x 12” white paper resting on its wrapping paper. The other is of a white electric fan sitting on a silver-colored metal shelf unit and pointing at a white wall. These domestic objects can represent the traits of such a serious, symbolic object so easily and carelessly. They reduce the flag and its meanings (and art and its meanings) to the service of household objects anyone can buy at the now bankrupt K-Mart.

“Sculpture of a Flag,” 2003, pencil on paper

“Sculpture of a Flag,” 2003, pencil on paper