Ed Rossbach

Made to resemble Indigenous American beadwork, these flags, figures, and horses were drawn on graph paper, heat-transferred to rice paper, and grafted to a basket base for a tessellated effect.

Beginning in the 1880s, flags became common in Plains Native American embellishment. Representations and use of the flag varied, with some Natives adopting it to show they were no longer a threat or to appeal to non-Indigenous buyers. Native Americans also proudly carry the flag as patriots, service people, and veterans: per capita, their rate of military service is higher than any other ethnic group, a statistic that has remained constant for more than 200 years. Ironically, they were not legally recognized as citizens until 1924, and some Indigenous Americans weren’t allowed to vote until 1962.

Artist Ed Rossbach borrowed freely from non-Western traditions. A self-proclaimed experimentalist, his simplified renderings can also be deemed cultural appropriation.