Fox KFYR-TV | Feature Video | Charlee Young

Minot Arts helps celebrate Women’s Suffrage with ‘Her Flag’

MINOT, N.D.- The 2020 election year is historic for women. It marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. It's been nearly a century since women were allowed the right to vote.

On Jan. 23, 1917, North Dakota's Governor Lynn Frazier signed the women's suffrage bill passed by the state legislature. That signature helped ratify the 19th Amendment on Aug.18, 1920.

Now, nearly 100 years later, Oklahoma native Marilyn Artus created an art project called 'Her Flag' to commemorate the event.

"This project is about encouraging equality and celebrating American history and raising awareness about women's history," said Marilyn Artus the creator of "Her Flag."

Marilyn chose one woman from each of the 36 states that ratified the Amendment to make a portion of a 18 x 26 foot flag.

Chosen from our state was Minot artist, Darby Ness.

"I feel honored to be chosen to be apart of this project," said Ness.

For more than 25 hours, Darby designed a 26-foot red stripe for the flag. And if you look closely you will find women throughout history in the red background along with a North Dakota touch--the period at the end of the quote is the shape of our state.

"I go to each capital city in order of ratification and sew on that state's stripe right there in a public performance," said Artus.

Marilyn will stitch the last stripe on the flag in Tennessee on Aug. 18, 2020. You can then see it flying at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas 10 days later on Aug. 28.

"The issue Is important to me and I think we need to make sure everybody, no matter what party you're in needs to have the right to vote. We need to protect that right as much as possible," said Ness.

One hundred years, 36 states and "Her Flag'" flying high for all to remember everyone has the right to vote from sea to shining sea.

Marilyn will stitch together Darby's portion of "Her Flag" in Bismarck Tuesday beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Bismarck Art and Galleries Association.