San Jose-based artist Ryan Carrington is transforming how people think about American identity through his latest art installation, "Coming Home," which transforms the traditional American flag into a compelling narrative about community and connection. The installation, currently displayed at the Redwood City Art Kiosk, uses materials that represent different working classes - from Carhartt work pants to business suits - to create a powerful 10-foot tablescape that seamlessly blends an American flag into a nostalgic gingham tablecloth pattern.
Carrington's innovative approach explores themes of unity and nostalgia by crafting American flags from the actual uniforms and clothing of workers from various economic backgrounds. These fabric flags serve as bridges between different communities, encouraging viewers to reflect deeply on important themes including labor, social class, personal identity, and shared American values. The artist has named individual pieces after family members, including works titled "Grandma Mae" and "Larry," which encourage visitors to see everyday objects - from homemade pies to plumbing parts - as vehicles for building empathy and gaining a richer understanding of American history and experience.
"I hope that people look in there and they see the pie, and they see the flag that's kind of turning into this nostalgic sort of elongated... how they think about their family and, you know, maybe how life was, or maybe how it is, still," Carrington explained about his artistic vision.
The installation is being presented by the Redwood City Improvement Association in collaboration with Fung Collaboratives at the Art Kiosk located at 2208 Broadway Street in Redwood City. The exhibition runs from July 19 through September 7, giving the community an extended opportunity to experience and reflect on the work.
The piece emerged from Carrington's ongoing artistic exploration of American identity, which draws heavily from his personal background and experiences. As a teaching professor at Santa Clara University, Carrington brings both academic insight and personal significance to his work through his upbringing in a blue-collar family in the Midwest. He draws direct inspiration from family gatherings, traditions, and the working-class values that shaped his early life. Through his careful process of dyeing fabrics and meticulously constructing each element of the installation, he demonstrates how specific material choices can communicate complex social messages about class, work, and belonging in America.
"The table has always been a place of coming together," Carrington told reporters, emphasizing the central metaphor of his installation. He explained that his work deliberately challenges current divisive interpretations of patriotic symbols, instead presenting the American flag as a unifying emblem that should represent all Americans regardless of their economic status or type of work.
One of the most striking elements of the installation is a traditional-looking Americana pie that has been constructed entirely from plumbing parts, demonstrating Carrington's skill at transforming industrial materials into objects of domestic comfort and nostalgia. This piece exemplifies his broader artistic approach of finding beauty and meaning in the materials and tools of working-class life.
The creation of the installation was itself a journey of artistic discovery for Carrington. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many artists were forced to adapt their practices, Carrington began experimenting with fabric dyeing techniques in his backyard. Through this process of experimentation, he unexpectedly discovered how to create perfect shades of red and pink through careful material selection and dyeing processes.
"Discovery through process is something that has been a big part of my work, and I enjoy it a lot," Carrington shared, highlighting how his artistic practice embraces unexpected outcomes and learning through making.
With this installation, Carrington invites viewers to engage in meaningful reflection about shared experiences across economic and social divides, the diversity of American economic life, and the genuine potential for unity in what many perceive as an increasingly fragmented society. His work suggests that despite apparent divisions, Americans from all walks of life share fundamental values and experiences around family, work, and community.
"My hope with my work is to sort of push back on [the flag's meaning] and have it remain a symbol of unity for all no matter what. If we went through troubled times, defensive times, like whatever it is, I think that my goal would be that the American flag still remains the symbol of this country and everything that it stood for through the ages," Carrington explained about his broader artistic mission.
The "Coming Home" installation continues Carrington's established artistic mission of using materiality and careful attention to physical objects to explore complex social dynamics. His work demonstrates how contemporary art can serve as a bridge across cultural and economic divides, creating spaces for dialogue and understanding in communities that might otherwise remain separated by class or economic differences. Through his thoughtful use of working-class materials and domestic imagery, Carrington creates art that speaks to shared American experiences while honoring the dignity and importance of all types of work and workers.
