July 4

Happy Birthday to us

This holiday evokes fond memories for most Americans.  I grew up in a small town and on July 4 the town sponsored a parade featuring (usually in this order) the high school band in uniform, Boy and Girl Scouts in uniform, veterans in various uniforms of their branch of service, old men driving old vintage cars, and children of all ages on bicycles decorated with crepe paper and flags.  This procession would wind around the streets before finally stopping at the town cemetery.  At this point a senior from the high school would read the Declaration of Independence, then came the Pledge of Allegiance.  After all this celebration everyone would head home to prepare their  4^th picnics

Here, in Santa Fe the day begins with Pancakes on the Plaza with patriotic songs rendered by the Community Concert Band.  Thousands of Santa Feans (and tourists) walk through downtown with small flags visiting craft vendors and inspecting the vintage cars display.  Then everyone heads for home to light up their BBQs.  I might suggest someone reads aloud from such papers as the Preamble of the Constitution or the Emancipation Proclamation.  Very powerful words we might reflect upon.

The textile du jour for this day is, of course, our flag.  It is seen everywhere in sizes from miniature to the huge one flying over used car lots and fast food restaurants.  They are seen on tee shirts and ball caps, on napkins and paper picnic ware.  There are other textiles created to honor our history.  Some are sentimental, some are political, some bring a smile and some not so much.

This textile is a panel measuring 43x23 inches depicting George Washington crossing the Delaware.  The colors are startling with vivid reds, blues and gold. The fabric is textured reminiscent of “bark cloth” (the fabric your grandma used to cover her patio furniture or perhaps used a draperies). This was produced by the Reliable Textile Company of NY under the trademark Wesco-Relex . Other subjects for similar textiles were patriotic motifs such as the bald eagle and, in a quite different vein, depictions of puppies and other cute animals. Supposedly, these panels were meant to be hung as panels or framed. What in the world could they have been thinking? Which brings me to a dilemma.  What in the world am I going to do with it?  Would you believe I have two Geo.W, and  friends panels.  Well, back to the bottom of my collection, I guess. Maybe someone might want to add them to their collection of patriotic memorabilia, hmmm?

 

Happy Birthday America

Happy Birthday to us