It is Veteran’s Day here in the United States and there is an outpouring of support and remembrance for U.S. soldiers that sacrificed their lives, in part or in whole, to serve in our military. So I thought I might post this image I took earlier this fall. It seems to fit in with the theme of the day.
The title I chose is one I feel the need to actually explain. It could, I suppose, be understood as recognizing this day of remembrance but I did not choose this title specifically for this day. I chose it more out of a sense of bemusement.
You see, I spotted this garage as I was driving down the street at the end of an early fall day while the sun was shining beautifully. I hesitated for a second or two, and then I spun the car around, parked across the street, and got out of the car with my camera and took a few images of this scene as well as the house next door.
I remember not knowing why this scene felt so fascinating to me. I just remember that it felt that way. I felt curious, bemused, wondering. Mostly, as I think upon it now, I wonder what it must be like to pull up to this garage after each day’s labor. I wonder what inspired this person to paint the U.S. flag on their garage door.
I imagine it was done with a sense of pride and patriotism but I wonder what compels a person to throw it up in their-and others’-faces repeatedly. Did they think they would forget who they were, where they were from, and what they believed in? Did they need a daily reminder? Did the rest of us passing by need one? I both understand it and it strikes me as funny all at once.
I suppose that is what bemuses me. When I look at this scene I get two simultaneous and conflicting reactions. One is “yes” (it is an act of urban, contemporary, cultural art-making, after all) and “for heaven’s sake, why?”
I’m curious, what is your response to this image or to similar scenes where you are from?
If I saw an Australian home with the flag painted on the garage door, I’d think there’d be a definite story behind it. As far as i can tell (with the limited information that I have), Aussies are far less attached to their flag than Americans are. You’ll find the Australian flag adorning bikinis, stubby holders, flip flops (or thongs, as they’re called here), beach towels and temporary tattoos, but rarely paraded in earnest, with Australia Day and Remembrance Day (what they call Veterans Day here) being the few exceptions. So if an Aussie were to paint the flag on his/her garage, i imagine there’d be some remarkable tale attached.
That said, no matter how attached to one’s flag one is, it’s quite something to paint it on something as conspicuous as a garage door. From the wear and tear, it looks as though it has been there a while.
I bet there’s a big story behind that starred and striped garage door. I’d never have the guts to knock on the door and ask though, would you?