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American Splenda
This installation is a curated survey of patriotic consumer products that utilize the image of the American flag as a graphic or surface decoration. All of the items included within the installation were purchased by the artist from eBay, Amazon, and thrift stores. While all of the objects use the image of the flag as a graphic pattern, no actual flags have been used.
The impetus for this installation originated shortly after I created "The Bride Laid Bare," in 2018, an artwork made of a divided and whitewashed US flag (seen below), that was exhibited on the floor of a gallery that receives government funding. The work caused such a fervent reaction from one veteran that it turned into a national news story, covered on FoxNews and Breitbart, and prompting 132 people to message me with vehement reactions, outright censure, expletives, and death wishes. This led to many exchanges about America’s relationship with our national flag, often converging on how the inviolability of the flag has been distorted due to the commodification of the image. This installation aims to represent the overwhelming offerings found within one specific niche of the consumer market; a spectacle reflecting a recent cultural phenomenon of intensifying nationalist sentiments.
The impetus for this installation originated shortly after I created "The Bride Laid Bare," in 2018, an artwork made of a divided and whitewashed US flag (seen below), that was exhibited on the floor of a gallery that receives government funding. The work caused such a fervent reaction from one veteran that it turned into a national news story, covered on FoxNews and Breitbart, and prompting 132 people to message me with vehement reactions, outright censure, expletives, and death wishes. This led to many exchanges about America’s relationship with our national flag, often converging on how the inviolability of the flag has been distorted due to the commodification of the image. This installation aims to represent the overwhelming offerings found within one specific niche of the consumer market; a spectacle reflecting a recent cultural phenomenon of intensifying nationalist sentiments.
Mockup for the next iteration of American Splenda (Digital montages, 2019)
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Selections from the American Splenda Collection, 2020, 7:58 minute video with sound
2019 Installation, Rosemary Duffy Larson Gallery
American Splenda Collected Items
Sourced from Ebay, Amazon, Oriental Trading, and various thrift stores
Sourced from Ebay, Amazon, Oriental Trading, and various thrift stores
- Splenda artificial sweetener packets with US flag font, stolen from local restaurants
- Flag on Brick print fabric shower curtain, divided in two
- Printed wallpaper border with sheep
- Wall cross
- (144) flag bottle caps, spread on floor and surfaces
- Metallic banners
- LED net lighting
- (24) flag tree Air fresheners, Vanilla scented
- Musical “Grand ‘Ole” clock
- Lynn Austin sexy poster
- Wooden shelf rack
- Eagle Latch hook rug
- God Bless America Latch hook rug
- JFK tapestry
- 9x13 LED sparkle light
- Hanging light set w/ 10 flag shape lights
- Plastic Tablecloth
- (2) Wind socks
- Wind chime
- Metal yard pinwheel
- Light up glitter flag decoration
- (4) Night lights with assorted pictures
- Folding vinyl laundry basket
- Trash can w/ sticker & bow
- Inflatable seat cushion
- Fleece throw blanket
- (16) bathmats
- Bean bag chair
- Folding Beach chair
- Ottoman Foot Rest
- Pouch couch inflatable seating
- (2) Erasers
- Round Inflatable cooler
- Stitched vinyl Flask
- Glitter mardi gras theatrical eye mask
- Tin ashtray
- Silicone glow in the dark water pipe/bong
- Head Rush Beer bong
- (13) Beer cozies
- Eagle Cigarette case
- Metal Lighter
- (2) Umbrellas
- Wooden jewelry box
- Bling iPhone case
- 3pk ballpoint pens
- (4) fabric Placemats set
- Paper plates/napkins
- Ceramic Texas Napkin holder
- Patriotic utensil caddy
- Divided pencil holder with Red & Blue pens, Custom American Splenda pencils
- Electric straightening brush
- Faux leather & wood Tissue box
- 2016 Trump faux Silver coin
- 2016 Trump faux Gold Coin
- Gold plated playing cards
- Golf balls, NASA Collectible set
- Hilary Clinton’s head photoshopped onto another woman in bathing suit magnet
- Flag print Elephant sculpture
- Fake Fabergé egg
- Wood wheelbarrow
- 9/11 decorative plate
- 5 Picture Frames
- Betty boop mirror
- Bottle cooler with mini tactical Vest
- Uncle Sam Nutcracker
- Porcelain policeman jewelry box with flag inside
- Mini guitar w/stand
- Folding knife in decorative case (Statue of liberty)
- Folding knife in decorative case (George W. Bush)
- Red & blue poker chips
- Resin Skull with flag bandana
- “Country flags” book
- “Long may she wave” book
- Rope Dog Toy with squeaker
- (25) Inflatable oozie toys
- Inflatable oversize bat
- Inflatable oversize Mallot with squeaker
- Inflatable football helmet
- Inner tube
- Bean bag Toss game
- Faux Rubik’s cube puzzle with patriotic print
- (12) Patriotic paddleball games
- (36) patriotic Flamingo pinwheels
- (2) Slinky brand jumbo pinwheels
- Child’s Punching bag
- (3) Child’s boxing gloves
- Gold flag fidget spinner
- (7) White Flag pattern fidget spinners
- Football Helmet Keychain with silicone phallus head stress toy
- Stuffed white Bear with flag print keychain
- Puppy clip on
- Pacifier
- Wind up teeth toy
- 6 identical squeezable stress toys
- Mouse pad puzzle
- Duck Dynasty puzzle
- Kinetic electronic flag
- Baby doll dressed in patriotic clothing & Baby moccasins
- Baby doll 2 dressed in patriotic clothing & sunglasses
- Sleep mask blinders
- Lace panties
- Women’s briefs
- Men’s chinese brand briefs
- C-string thong
- Artificial Nails
- (2) star Pasties stickers, now on female mannequin
- Men’s ankle socks
- (4) Assorted print Neck ties
- Dog bow tie
- Flag Dog tag
- Faux Brass Pocket watch on chain
- Cross flag necklaces
- Mardi gras necklace
- (5) decorative faux rhinestone beads
- Santa plastic watch
- (5) prs assorted Sunglasses
- Oversize Novelty glasses
- Motorcycle belt buckle
- Iraqi freedom pin
- Patriotic Mickey Mouse head pin
- Headband deelyboppers
- Fairy wings
- Bib
- Flag Cape
- Glittery chef Apron
- Clock earrings
- Chain Pins
- Hockey mask
- vinyl Mouth mask
- Color changing LED mask that lifts up with silver skull underneath
- Printed balaclava
- Patriotic sombrero from Oriental Trading Company
- (6) Red Visors with Zipper fanny packs
- (6) Blue Visors with Zipper fanny packs
- pirate hat
- Straw hat
- Cowboy hat
- Crocheted tank top
- Exhilaration tank Top
- Boys hoodie
- Drawstring shorts, 2XL
- Flared skirts
- Oversize Tank tops
- Child’s hat w/ heart
- Busch beer hat
- 3 sets Flip flops
- Faux Leather wallet
- Fabric tote bag
- Troops tote bag
- Tabletop mirror with lines of Splenda, razor blade & pen barrel
- Male mannequin hand with Rhinestone Bling watch & Artificial nails, manicured
- Female mannequin hand 1 with Faux Gold skull ring, Flexing flag watch & Artificial nails, manicured
- Female mannequin hand 2 (rubber) with Artificial nails, manicured
- Tactical vest with flag patches
- 12” liberty patch
- Loud & proud patch
- Pot leaf patch
- Mickey Mouse patch
- Peace patch
- Smiley face patch
- Skull patch
- Dove patch
- Superman patch
- Sexy female silhouette patch
- Heart & praying hands patches
- Mouth guard with impression of the artist’s teeth
- Limited edition “PATRIOT PROOF” of purchase cards (22 tiers) with artist’s middle fingerprint:
- $0= Unpatriotic
- $1 = Passive patriot
- $2 = Greenhorn level
- $3 = Average patriot
- $4 = Blue collar level
- $5 = Monumental patriot
- $6 = White collar level
- $7.04 = Independence level
- $8 = Supersized level
- $9.11= Patriot act/Hero level
- $10= True patriot (Hamiltonian)
- $11.11 = Veteran level
- $12.16 = Tea party patriot
- < $14.92= Original American
- >$15.00 = Founding patriot
- $17.87= Constitutional level
- $18.63= Emancipated American
- $19.84= (Born in USA) Springsteen level
- $20= Jacsksonian or Tubmanian level
- $25= Corporate level
- $45 = Trumpetier
- $50= Granted Gold Nationalist level
- $100=Diamond level 100% American - The 1%
