White Flags share common threads

Five years ago, Aaron Fein '93 stood on a corner in his town of Charlottesville, Va., holding eight of his white flags, speaking with the public, trying to get people interested in his idea to highlight commonalities across the world by rendering each nation's flags in the color white. Years later, after "White Flags" has grown and developed exponentially, Fein explained: "I can't do it alone." As Vassar's 2010-2011 artist in residence, Fein has worked extensively with students and faculty alike to sew, embroider, iron and discuss the installation of the flags. This Sunday, April 24, the project will reach its pinnacle when all 192 flags of United Nations member states hand-made in the color white will be installed over the Vassar College Chapel lawn.

Fein found the idea for "White Flags" after observing the comfort many individuals found in the American flag post Sept. 11, 2001, specifically American Flag bumper stickers. Though popularized after the attacks as a sign for constancy and patriotism, the stickers slowly but inevitably faded to white. At the whim of sunlight, wind and rain, an image meant to stabilize, strengthen and set apart a population loses its descriptive qualities. Thus, Fein's project employs the color white as a unifying agent. Each flag is embroidered with its country's insignia, but is devoid of differentiating color.

To expand on the concept that flags are highly susceptible to change, Fein worked with Professor of Earth Science Jill Schneiderman's Earth, Environment and Humanity class, hand sewing flags and discussing the idea of nature as an equalizing, un-discriminatory factor. Fein explained, "When I look at the environmental state of the world, I see nature looking back at us, and it does not see national boundaries. If it sees us at all, it sees the human race." "White Flags" is obviously a creative endeavor that communicates a political message; however, it clearly also contains environmental undertones. Just as the American flag cannot necessarily stand the test of time, vast spans of geologic time change and weather space until they're unrecognizable.

In addition, Fein's project reflects the cyclical nature of the environment by virtue of the fact that he will be installing his flags on the same campus where his artistic vision was originally manifested. "What's funny is that a lot of the ideas I used to explore at Vassar, I've come back to," he said. During college, Fein was similarly interested in visions of interconnectivity and ideas conceptually united: "I used to be inspired by architectural scaffolding. The idea that a type of structure metaphorically unites these large urban areas, but when pulled down, all the parts are reshuffled," he explained.

Thus, Fein really brought it all back home when he worked intimately with students and faculty in the College Center. He was stationed there with several sewing machines in September and then again in late March discussing the project with passers by and getting people involved with the production process. His goal has been to get as many individuals on board with the project as possible, to "actually get people to work hands on in all the different capacities that involves," he said. Mariclare Dasigenis '12, an art history and religion major, has worked with studio art major Sam Shin '12 to help Fein determine the layout and execution of "White Flags." Dasigenis explained, "The flags become a confused jumble of stripes, stars and crests, instead of politicized and colorfully charged symbols," adding, "I think this project is important for Vassar's campus, not just for the political implications, but also because it involves a working artist and Vassar grad, in a way that engages students."

Now that all 192 flags are completed, Fein plans to continue facilitating bonds between the flags and Vassar's community through the physical installation. "I'll keep with this idea of letting people make marks on the project," he explained. "People can interact with the flags, take one down and sew with white thread their own unique design." From this Sunday, April 24 until Friday, April 29, Fein will put the flags up and take them down each day on the Chapel lawn. The central and open nature of the location will allow people to interact with the installation on a personal level. "You can walk through them and see them very close up," said Fein.

Dahlia Lithwick, Fein's wife and another artist in residence during the 2010-2011 school year, is a media commentator and journalist for Slate Magazine who has spoken with political science and media studies classes about the status of the United States' legal system after Sept. 11, 2001. Lithwick's very outspoken approach to social justice and expression is much of what inspired Fein to bring his flags into the public sphere. He said, "Without her being pretty brave about what she does, I wouldn't be either." On Friday, April 29, Fein and Lithwick will participate in a panel discussion about their residency, entitled "Creative expression and free speech—what are the boundaries today?" that will take place in Taylor Hall 103 at 1 p.m. Following the talk, there will be a closing reception for the "White Flags" installation on the Chapel lawn.

Perhaps what is most exciting about the large-scale installation is the fact that the flags will finally be displayed how Fein has always intended. "They're really meant to live outside and be in the light and be constantly changing," said Fein. Up until this point, the process has been one of production; however, now the flags are complete and will be exposed to the public. According to Fein, "This will mark a new beginning for the life of the project." "White Flags" not only showcases the transformative power of environmental factors over humanity, but also gives us an opportunity to make connections from our own perspective as citizens of the world. "Nature transforms it and is always imbuing it with different meaning by emphasizing the symbols or taking them away depending on light," Fein explained, adding, "to see that will be pretty powerful to me."