Capitol riot delays display of OKC artist's 'Her Flag'

Oklahoma article Marilyn Artus poses for a photo with her completed multi-year “Her Flag” project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Okla on Friday, Aug 21, 2020 [Chris Landsberger/The Okl… — Oklahoma article Marilyn Artus poses for a photo with her completed multi-year “Her Flag” project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Okla on Friday, Aug 21, 2020 [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman Archives]

Oklahoma City artist Marilyn Artus was all set to see her cross-country collaborative "Her Flag" project make its Washington, D.C., debut during this week's presidential inauguration.

But in the wake of the violent Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, plans to display the 18-feet-by-26-feet flag on the exterior of the National Museum of Women in the Arts have folded for now.

"They really wanted to have it there very badly," Artus said. "It's one of the most fabulous women's art museums in the world. So, to have this big statement about women and voting at this time, they were thrilled and so excited. I think they were trying to do just about anything they could to make it happen, but they are very close to the epicenter of everything."

A statement piece that took three years and 36 artists to create, "Her Flag" commemorates the Aug. 26, 1920, adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. Artus said the new plan is for the Washington, D.C., museum to display the massive, multi-hued flag in spring or summer instead.

"I think we will make it happen. So many of the huge national suffrage things that were going to happen in 2020 didn't get to because of COVID - there were going to be these huge events and all these celebrations - so I do feel lucky that I actually did get to complete 'Her Flag' and get it initially exhibited somewhere. So, I've had more good that's happened with this than bad," the artist said.

Suffrage celebration

Proposed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment needed to be ratified by 36 states to be adopted, and in 2017, Artus began work on "Her Flag" with a call for women artists from each of those 36 states.

One artist from each of those states was chosen to devise a stripe to honor the 19th Amendment's 100th anniversary and the seven-decade struggle for women's suffrage.

Oklahoma artist Marilyn Artus and her family show off her completed multi-year "Her Flag" project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment at Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman Archives]

In summer 2019, Artus embarked on a series of 17 planned road trips over 14 months to visit all 36 states. The Oklahoma native intended to make the addition of each stripe on "Her Flag" a festive event, but she was forced to take most of the project online last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But she reached her goal of traveling to Nashville, Tennessee, on Aug. 18 - 100 years to the day after Tennessee became the 36th and final state ratify the amendment - to add artist the last stripe.

Then, "Her Flag" made its official debut at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Aug. 26, 2020 - 100 years to the day that the 19th Amendment was officially adopted.

"The idea was to have it up in D.C. when we were voting (for president). ... But with everything - the tumultuous (times), with COVID - there was no way that was going to happen. So, I started thinking about the inauguration, and then it was like 'maybe that could be it.' So many people on my behalf started reaching out to the National Museum of Women in the Arts," she said.

Although the museum is currently closed due to the pandemic, Artus said having "Her Flag" on view on the side of the building for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration Wednesday would have been special because Kamala Harris also is being sworn in as our country's first woman vice president.

But as she watched footage of the Jan. 6 insurrection - in which five people died - on television, the artist said she wasn't thinking about her inauguration day plans.

"I didn't even think of myself or the project or any of it, just because as an American it was just so horrifying what was happening and scary. I didn't even really think about it, honestly, until ... many days later. I was like, 'I wonder what's going on with "Her Flag?" I wonder if they still want to do that?'" said Artus, who has canceled her plans to travel to Washington, D.C., for this week's festivities.

"It would have been amazing, but I have so many privileges and so many things have gone so well with 'Her Flag' that it's OK. What I've had to do with the project is just kind of roll with things that didn't work out like I thought they were going to. I've had to just make it work and let go of the part of the idea that I wasn't going to be able to make happen. So, this is just one of those things that I'm going to have to roll with again."

Sundance showcase

With "Her Flag's" Washington, D.C., debut postponed out of an abundance of caution, Artus said she is hopeful the delay will allow the COVID-19 vaccine to bring the pandemic more under control.

"It would be nicer if the museum could actually be open," she said. "As much as I would love for it to be there (now), I think the smarter move is to wait."

But Artus still has some exciting developments with "Her Flag" to celebrate this month: After premiering at an October event at Scissortail Park, a documentary chronicling her work on the project is set to be showcased at 2:20 p.m. Sunday at Tulsa's Circle Cinema during the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Circle Cinema is the official Satellite Screen for Oklahoma for Sundance. Along with hosting the official Sundance selections Jan. 28 to Feb. 2, the nonprofit theater will supplement festival programming with local "Beyond Film" events, including a "Her Flag" in-person showing, virtual screening and panel discussion.

“The 2021 Sundance Film Festival at Circle Cinema is an opportunity for curious folks to gain access not only to world premieres, but to a variety of Oklahoma-centric film conversations," said Circle Cinema film programmer Chuck Foxen in an email. "'Her Flag' is a timely piece with the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment and the presidential inauguration.”

Panelists for the "Her Flag" Sundance showcase include Artus, Oklahoma City Councilwoman Nikki Nice and artists Nicole LaRue and Higgins Bond. Jessica Wolfson, producer of the "Her Flag" documentary, will moderate.

"I'm really honored," Artus said. "To be in that company is pretty fabulous."