Vigil for the 21
“Vigil for the 21” reimagines the symbol of the U.S. flag as a red mylar emergency blanket, a thin veil of implied protection. The agencies, institutions and systems meant to protect us from gun violence are failing.
21 flags will hang from the breezeway at Canopy in Austin, Texas. The flags are in remembrance of the 21 individuals, 19 of whom were children, massacred at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. The flags will remain onsite for 77 hours to honor the 77 minutes that children, teachers, and families waited for help and news of their loved ones.
Shortly after installing the 21 flags on March 24 at midnight, a severe storm hit Austin. I raced to the site, and throughout a large part of the night, I tended to the hanging emergency blankets/flags. As I watched and waited, I held vigil. The flags were battered and torn by high winds and rain, and despite my care, several ripped into pieces. These weathered flags serve as a visual embodiment of our ongoing and increased exposure to gun violence.
Although each individual flag was impacted by the weather, collectively they continued to sway in the wind, creating a visual and sonic meditative installation. As I continue to work with the mylar blankets, I am learning to embrace the fragility of the material and honor the gift of presence. Once the work is deinstalled, the flags will be repaired, evolving into yet another iteration of this living, breathing installation.
The flags were printed with the support of Canopy community member Jonas Criscoe. I am grateful for the opportunity to place this work at the Canopy complex on the one-year anniversary.