Darien resident Robert Carley has traveled the country documenting American flag tributes. This year, he decided to take on one of his own.
Carley has traveled to 47 states since September 11, 2001 photographing all types of tributes to the flag. He said it all started when he was inspired by tributes he saw in his own community at a time when that tragedy brought the country together.
"People couldn’t buy fabric flags – they sold out - so people turned to their own creativity," Carley said.
He started finding the tributes through word of mouth in his local community, and slowly spread his efforts until he was driving across the country. Carley estimates that he has taken over 50,000 photographs at various locations over the years. He organizes them by category and when he displays the collection he keeps it around 7,000 photographs.
Some of his favorite tributes are what he calls flag houses – homes that have been painted over to create a large American flag display. One of his favorite displays is a home in Kent, Conn. that he photographed early into the project. The homeowner had painted the entire front of the house as an American flag. It has since been painted over, but the photographs remain.
"I see these average people creating amazing art through patriotism," Carley told NBC Connecticut.
Carley, an artist himself, believes the American flag is an incredible piece of art because it is so recognizable and that gives people the ability to interpret it through all types of mediums.
He told NBC Connecticut his concerns about the current political climate spurred him to find a way to show his own patriotism by creating his own display to show support for our veterans.
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"I’m a patriotic person and I see what these veterans have done losing limbs and losing their lives for their freedom. I want to bring attention in my own little way in thanking the veterans for their huge sacrifice," Carley said.
So he set to work, working with friend Paul Zajkowski for weeks and weeks collecting and painting water bottles for a display at Baker Field in Darien, Conn. The entire display, which creates two American flags along a chain-link fence, is made of water bottles, spray paint, and duct tape.
Carley said he thinks flag art is a show of patriotism that can bring people together in a time when the political climate is tense and divided.
"I think we live in the greatest country in the world. When you travel outside the US you appreciate it more," Carley said.
Carley hopes to continue collecting water bottles and expand the display at Baker Field to a third flag.
A sampling of Carley’s photographs is on display at The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, click here.
