The Greens in Our Red, White, and Blue, 2024
Acrylic, Silk, Cotton Linen, Polyester, Digital Media, Audio
108 x 108 in
This outdoor augmented reality installation honors three war heroes, all named Green, Green, and Greene, hailing from Staunton, Virginia. Inspired by their service and the diverse cultures they helped protect, this piece features a visually grounding tapestry shaped by the American flag, symbolizing our unity in diversity. American Indigenous, African, Nordic, and Celtic symbols intertwined throughout the design, invoke the complex legacies of unity, war, and honor that continually mix into new forms of American cultural heritage.
As the physical tapestry transforms and weathers in its display—fading and reforming under the touch of visitors and the forces of nature—it reflects the way material aspects of memory can erode. Yet, in stark contrast, the virtual figures of the heroes endure, unchanged, representing the lasting nature of their sacrifice and their legacy in the nation's ideals. The untarnished digital presence symbolizes how those sacrifices for America's beliefs remain untouched by time, while their stories and honors live on.
This piece is an immersive reminder of the hidden sacrifices that build the foundation of our national identity, where diverse cultural contributions intertwine, ensuring the ideals of liberty and unity prevail through time.