Photos: Colorado flag-art show next Colorado Day? A Capitol idea!

Long before the Colorado rebranding team decided a variation on the Colorado flag would not be an option, Coloradans had turned into a bunch of flag-wavers. Over the past decade, the iconic flag symbol has been used on everything from tattoos to crocheted headband -- a creative outpouring that's exactly...

By Patricia Calhoun

September 5, 2013

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Long before the Colorado rebranding team decided a variation on the Colorado flag would not be an option, Coloradans had turned into a bunch of flag-wavers. Over the past decade, the iconic flag symbol has been used on everything from tattoos to crocheted headband -- a creative outpouring that's exactly what rebranding was supposed to celebrate. And so, as I was listening to Aaron Kennedy, Colorado's chief marketing officer, explain the logic behind the new brand, I suggested that in a show of solidarity, flag-wavers be featured in an official state exhibit.

And why not tie the exhibit to Colorado Day, since August 1, 2014, is a First Friday?

After all, in recent years the Colorado flag -- first adopted in 1911 -- has even found plenty of official fans. A variation of the flag's C is on the home page of the state's official tourism site, Colorado.com....

...as well as the home page for the Colorado Innovation Network, which held the event where the new brand was announced at the end of August.....

...and It's even on the original site for the rebranding project, makingcolorado.com:

It is for now, anyhow.

But while the flag was good enough for those sites, Kennedy and company decided early on that it wouldn't work for the new brand. One of the reasons why not? Because the Colorado flag logo belongs to everyone and the state can't control its use -- not its use by commercial outfits, not its use by independent artists. (Read the official explanation in the Why not use the Colorado flag?" rebranding chapter "here.)

Still, Kennedy seemed open to the idea of a Colorado flag show. So who knows? Maybe next year the state will take a break from slapping the new brand on business cards and letterheads and install an exhibit that celebrates Colorado's creative spirit. And if the Capitol isn't up for hosting such a show, we're open to alternative sites.

Here's a sampling of what might be displayed:

Continue for more examples of Colorado flag-art that could be featured next Colorado Day. Continue for more examples of Colorado flag-art that could be featured next Colorado Day. Know of more Colorado flag products and art you'd like to see in a show? Post samples in the comments section below.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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