Flags of Safety and Resilience

Flags of Safety and Resilience is a rapid-response, weeklong social practice project examining the questions: How do we minimize, mitigate, or cope with threats to our safety? What supports our physical safety? What supports our psychological safety—feeling accepted and respected?

I partnered with three community organizations in Albuquerque, New Mexico—Crossroads for Women, Southwest Organizing Project, and Working Classroom—to conduct workshops with youth, organizers, and system-involved women to sketch flag designs. Ten designs were sewn by myself and community stitchers. These flags convey local community members’ insights, strategies, and perspectives on safety.

I was invited by sheri crider to develop this project in conversation with TransVEIL, her sculpture in collaboration with Obie Weathers III. TransVEIL is a mobile surveillance trailer reconfigured to offer mutual aid and resources, such as water and locally farmed produce. Flags of Safety and Resilience are flown from the tower with non-operational cameras.

The projects are on view through November 15, 2021 at Off Lomas, an “odd lot” and site for public art run by Raven Chacon and Candice Hopkins at 602 13th Street NW in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

a flag with a female symbol on a pink half and a male symbol on a blue half, with a scale beneath
a sewn flag with a female symbol on a pink half and a male symbol on a blue half, with a scale beneath

BK

Girls are equal to boys.

Flag Stitched by Rezaie Rezagul* / Shafiqa Pannah* / Christine Wong Yap.

 

an open book with yellow pages atop 3 orange steps in a royal blue doorway on a light blue background.
a sewn flag of an open book with yellow pages atop 3 orange steps in a royal blue doorway on a light blue background.

Madalena Salazar

I think that education is a solution or response to so many threats—public health, physical violence, bigotry, racism, etc. The steps lead to an open book in an open doorway. The steps are sort of like a pyramid which also represents the acquisition of knowledge. Gold represents light and knowledge. Blue represents air and sky, which is connected to thought.

Flag Stitched by Rezaie Rezagul* / Shafiqa Pannah* / Christine Wong Yap.

 

a blue square inside a red square with rounded corners inside a blue circle on a green background
a sewn flag of a blue square inside a red square with rounded corners inside a blue circle on a green background

Theo/Saxolotl

Something I want people to understand is that change happens and you need to adapt. Don’t be like a square. Be a circle.

Flag Stitched by Rezaie Rezagul* / Shafiqa Pannah* / Christine Wong Yap.

 

A red heart behind a velvet rope, on a light green background with a blue floor
A red heart behind a velvet rope, on a light green background with a blue floor

Lillian Knight

When people see my flag, I want them to know they can choose who is in their life. You can choose the decisions you make.

Flag Stitched by Rezaie Rezagul* / Shafiqa Pannah* / Christine Wong Yap.

 

two hands reach up with their palms up, with a heart above. The hands and heart are white. The background is green
a sewn flag of two hands reach up with their palms up, with a heart above. The hands and heart are white. The background is green

Alexis Vilay

The hands symbolize humanity. They are holding up/raising/supporting a heart. The heart symbolizes love, safety, home. I chose green to symbolize growth, life, and forward movement. If we lift others up, we will all grow and evolve together, resulting in a safer, stronger, more engaged society.

Flag Stitched by Rezaie Rezagul* / Shafiqa Pannah* / Christine Wong Yap.

 

a yellow butterfly with a black body flies away from a white jar on a pink background
a sewn flag of a yellow butterfly with a black body flies away from a white jar on a pink background

Vero

My yellow butterfly represents freedom from 20 years of addiction.

Flag Stitched by Manuel Hernandez with support from Working Classroom.

 

a stylized landscape. The land is represented by three horizontal stripes of orange, green, and red. Above is blue sky with three half circles representing clouds. The half circles are white, yellow, and red
a stylized landscape. The land is represented by three horizontal stripes of orange, green, and red. Above is blue sky with three half circles representing clouds. The half circles are white, yellow, and red

Joseph Stacey

Clouds represent hope and prayer. Living in a desert, it is always hopeful and promising—a community goal in Indigenous communities of the Southwest. The stripes of color represent the landscape. Mesas (orange) symbolize solidarity, connection, housing, stability. Blue skies (blue, turquoise) symbolize identity, journey, wisdom, creativity. Land (red) represents land-roots, sovereignty, bloodline, connectedness. Vegetation (green) and corn (yellow) represents identity, people, culture, strength, resilience.

Flag Stitched by Christine Wong Yap.

 

a white hourglass shape appears on a purple background. Within the hourglass are red hearts.
sewn flag of a white hourglass shape appears on a purple background. Within the hourglass are red hearts.

Brianna Parrish

It takes time to love and to love yourself. My flag design is about healthy relationships, boundaries, and self-love.

Flag Stitched by Christine Wong Yap.

 

a rainbow pride flag pattern appears on a kite flying on a sky blue background
a rainbow pride flag pattern appears on a kite flying on a sky blue background

RC

The rainbow kite represents the freedom to be yourself and to be LGBTQ, and flying free in life.

Flag Stitched by Christine Wong Yap.

 

A black handgun is in a red circle with a line crossing it out. The circle is on a background of horizontal stripes of red and yellow.
A sewn flag of a black handgun in a red circle with a line crossing it out. The circle is on a background of horizontal stripes of red and yellow.

Tech

Guns kill. The yellow means caution and the red is for “Do not shoot.” Use with caution.

Flag Stitched by Christine Wong Yap.

 

Participants in the workshops generated many flag designs—far more than the sewing capacity in this short turnaround project. Here are a few of the unrealized designs.

A colored pencil drawing of a fist holding a rosebud. The hand is cut off at the wrist and blood drops come out of the wrist. There is a blue background.

George Luján

George’s drawing signifies community empowerment through cultural action. —CWY

 

a child's drawing of a figure in a doorway

HR

HR is a young child. A threat to his safety is fear of the dark. His drawing is of himself entering a doorway, arriving to the safety of home. —CWY

 

a geometric pattern in green and white with only squares and circles. There are four-square checkerboard patterns in the four corners of the overall square composition. circles appear in each of the checks in alternating white or green. Between the checkerboard patterns are large donut shapes. In the middle is a large green plus sign.

Mik

Mik, who is Jamaican, drew a sound system to represent his heritage. It reminded him of J. Dilla’s Donuts record. In the center is a green cross, representing healing through cannabis.

 

Credit: Christine Wong Yap with contributors, Flags of Safety and Resilience, 2021, social practice, 10 custom sewn flags, flags: 16x16 inches each.

Featured Flag Designers: Alexis Vilay, BK, Brianna Parrish, George Luján, HR, Lillian Knight, Joseph Stacey, Madalena Salazar, Mik, RC, Tech, Theo/Saxolotl, Vero.

Stitchers: Christine Wong Yap, Manuel Hernandez (supported by Working Classroom), Rezaie Rezagul*, Shafiqa Pannah*. *Facilitated by Nkazi Sinandile, New Mexico Women’s Global Pathways, Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque. Supported by Arriba NM, Southwest Organizing Project.

Partner Organizations: Crossroads for Women, Southwest Organizing Project, Working Classroom

Special thanks to sheri crider, Barb Bell, Sanitary Tortilla Factory, Off Lomas, Raven Chacon, Candice Hopkins, Amanda Curreri, Joseph Stacey, and Madalena Salazar.

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