William: The American flag is
one of the world's most
recognizable symbols, but the
responses it provokes are
anything but uniform.
A new museum exhibit in Arkansas
explores how such a universal
symbol can send so many
different messages.
Ali rogin recently paid a visit
for our arts and culture series,
"Canvas."
Reporter: It flies over the
halls of justice, it's used to
mark a solemn sacrifice, and
it's wrapped around shoulders in
celebration.
It's present at the proudest
moments.
The flag represents America.
But it can't represent all the
experiences of those who claim
it as their own.
That's the idea behind the
exhibit "Flagged for
discussion," at the crystal
bridges museum of American art
in bentonville, Arkansas.
>> Every object here reflects
the artist's personal
relationship or connection to
the flag.
Reporter: Curator Larissa
Randall came up with the idea
for the exhibit while perusing
items in the museum's permanent
collection.
There were so many depictions of
the American flag, but each was
so different.
Like this Norman Rockwell
portrait of Rosie the riveter,
quite literally eating hitler's
lunch.
Or this wood carving by Leroy
Almon, making clear that the
transatlantic slave trade also
took place under the flag's
auspices.
Or "Ward," by George Tooker, in
which the flag provides little
comfort to ailing patients.
>> I was struck by how artists
from across time, across walks
of life, of various backgrounds,
all used the flag to comment on
issues that are important to
them.
>> This is a flag.
Mexico and the U.S. As one.
But it's bigger than that.
It's, "Can't we get along?"
Reporter: For artist Consuelo
Jimenez Underwood, the flag is
both message and medium.
Underwood was born in
Sacramento, California.
Her mother was third-generation
mexican-america, and her father
was part of the bracero program,
which allowed Mexican seasonal
workers to come to the united
States during both world wars.
Her piece at crystal bridges is
called "Home of the brave."
It combines the American and
Mexican flags, evoking the
strong ties between the two
countries, but also the deep
divides.
>> I feel that the threads can
join not just fabric, but
people.
And that's where I came in.
I wanted to do something about
the division between our
countries, Mexico, and U.S.
For me, that line is very
arbitrary.
Reporter: Like many children of
migrants at the time, Underwood
grew up picking crops with her
family, taxing her small body.
But with the help of her
parents, she nurtured her spirit
and mind.
>> I learned how to appreciate
the little that I had from my
dad.
When it was the hottest, picking
tomatoes in Sacramento valley at
110 degrees, it was hard.
And he would sing and everyone
would listen, because he had a
beautiful voice.
The other magic that happened in
those fields in those earlier
years were the book vans that
came to the fields for us kids
that would miss school the first
two months and the last two
months of the school year.
I made a promise to myself.
Because I am getting behind, I
swear I will not read fiction.
I'm only going to read
biography, science, real stuff
so that I can make up for the
knowledge that I'm losing.
Reporter: America allowed
children like Underwood to labor
alongside adults, a practice
that continues illegally today.
But as Underwood sees it,
America also allowed her to
thrive.
>> I lived under that flag, the
U.S. Flag.
And I knew if I got an education
I could move up the socio
economic.
So, "Consuelo, don't cry.
You'll be the first of 11 of 12
to get that high school
education."
Reporter: She gets inspiration
from the methods of the
indigenous huichol people of
Mexico, from whom she is
descended.
Her flag rests on a backdrop of
intricate indigenous designs.
>> Underneath is a really
important history that, don't
forget, it's the shoulders that
we stand on.
Reporter: Her flag features raw
materials like plastic and
barbed wires.
Safety pins hold the two flags'
loose threads together.
>> This flag is in disarray
because it's not perfect, but
it's beautiful, because the land
that it waves over is wonderful.
Reporter: What does it mean to
you to have this work in
conversation with the other
pieces in this exhibit?
>> It really is wonderful.
I feel like crystal bridges is
embodying the best of these
artworks that make you jump.
Go, "Oh my god, what is going?
I never seen something like
that."
>> I would see this project as
successful if someone left
thinking about the flag in a
different way than they walked
in.
Reporter: That's the exhibit's
other common thread, each
pieces' piece's ability to
provoke deeper thought.
>> It makes me proud.
It makes me also thoughtful of
our history and how far we've
come in expanding our civil
rights.
>> As my cap shows, I was in the
service in the army.
So the flag to me is freedom
because that's what I fought
for.
>> How free are we, really, if
you really think about it?
>> Some people when they look at
the U.S. Flag might see unity or
fear or harmony or freedom.
Whatever people see I think is
valid, but also is worth
investigating whose freedom are
we talking about and how, as we
move forward as a country what
, do we want this to sort of
represent for us?
Reporter: "Flagged for