A New Type Of Flag Is Raised At The Creative Time Gala 2017

[Creative Time Spring Gala : Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

Last night Creative Time hosted their annual gala, where they displayed their latest public art project Pledges of Allegiance. The new project invited 16 artists to design flags that will be raised in various public spaces in New York starting on June 14th (which happens to be Flag Day), with a new flag unveiled every month.

Presented by Bombay Sapphire, the event embraced cultural diversity at every turn. Upon entrance, cocktails created by Bombay Sapphire mixologist Gary Hayward featured ingredients from around the world like lychee, Asian pear, and white tea. During dinner, guests were treated to a unique menu by Mission Chinese chef Angela Dimayuga, with all 16 flags raised above them. The honorees for the night were Humberto Leon and Carol Lim of Opening Ceremony, noted for its array of global designers and political, performance-based fashion shows. Opening Ceremony collaborated with Creative Time (as well as Alix Browne, Cian Browne, and Fabienne Stephan) on the flags, which brought an array of artists including Vik Muniz, Marylin Minter, Ahmet Ögüt, and Rirkrit Tiravanija to display their messages, which ranged from images to phrases like “Fear Eats The Soul,” “Dignity Has No Nation,” and “Don’t Worry, Be Angry.”

[Creative Time Spring Gala : Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

The flags were in line with everything Creative Time has supported, which is free, public artwork that are both challenging and conscionable. In the current political climate, much of the art world has shed its conceptual leaning in favor of something more explicit and vociferous. Artists have channelled their frustrations into their work, and have used their position of influence to create a focused and unified message. Creative Time once again brought these feelings to focus, and over the next year people will be reminded to salute issues bigger than nations or the lines that divide them.

[Lily Kwong, Mia Moretti, Kate Greer at the Creative Time 2017 Spring Gala Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

[Waris Ahluwalia, Katie Hollander at the Creative Time 2017 Spring Gala Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

[Carol Lim, Abbi Jacobson, Humberto Leon, Ilana Glazer at the Creative Time 2017 Spring Gala Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

[Chloe Sevigny at the Creative Time 2017 Spring Gala Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

[Creative Time 2017 Spring Gala Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin]

[Photos: BFA/Ben Lozovsky]