Phase 4: Pride
at Waterplace Park in Providence, RI, 2008
KNITTING NATION PHASE 4: Pride, took place on June 21 of 2008 in Providence, RI at Waterplace Park, a central plaza on the banks of the Providence River. Knitters recreated an homage to the original rainbow pride flag while orators took turns reading replies from the international internet poll question: “How do you feel about the rainbow flag and why?” The public was invited to reply to the question though an open-mic incorporated in the installation.
The rainbow pride flag, originally constructed in 1978, was designed by Gilbert Baker in San Francisco to symbolize the diversity of the gay community. The flag has since become an internationally recognized icon of LGBTQ politics, communities and market-based identities. The first flag was made with 8 colors, with each color symbolic of a specific meaning.
During the live labor performance event, in six hours, 15 knitters and stitchers constructed this massive knit pride flag. The event culminated in a ceremonial rolling up of the piece and transport to the PRIDE parade in Downtown Providence, where it was brought to the roof of art space AS220 and unfurled as a building size banner for the parade. The piece has since been carried in the Anchorage Alaska PRIDE parade in 2009, the NYC DYKE March in 2014, and displayed in many different configurations as a sculpture and a textile installation in art exhibitions, most notably in Queer Threads, the celebrated exhibition at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art, where the piece now finds its home in the Museum's collection.