How Many Colors is the American Flag? a four image quilt series, has been selected to feature in public art banners on the Avenue of the Arts starting in May 2026. The banners will be displayed as a part of the AVEARTS2.0 development plan from the Avenue of the Arts, Inc. to enhance the artistic presence on Broad Street, the major arts thoroughfare in Philadelphia, PA. The project’s theme “Philadelphia’s Creative Spirit and Freedom of Expression” celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in Philadelphia.
How Many Colors is the American Flag? is a piece that I developed in response to a shifting understanding of patriotism and who gets to define what the American flag represents. As a textile artist in Philadelphia, I feel a kinship with Betsy Ross, who is credited with sewing the first American flag, and whose legend was popularized around the first Centennial celebration. Like most American stories, it is more complicated than might first be believed, as there were probably more un-sung women seamstresses working in the background to create the flag as we recognize it today. Nonetheless, her iconic role in American mythology came to mind immediately when considering the Semiquincentinnial.
My piece reimagines the American flag as a multitude of colors which represent the beautiful diversity of our country; blue and green represent the beauty of the land as it was enjoyed and honored by the Lenni-Lenape pre-colonization, the pink and purple honor the women’s work which has kept this country moving forward, the shades of brown represent the racial and cultural diversity of this city and the country, and the yellow and gold represent light and optimism for the future. The combined rainbow effect of the abstracted flag pieces honor the thriving LGBTQIA+ community in Philadelphia. This new, inclusive, expansive flag makes room for everyone and focuses less on geo-political representation and more on the humanity of the people in our country.
My piece is inspired by the location of Broad Street in the heart of the city of Philadelphia. The main concept of the piece, creating an American flag, connects to Philadelphia as the home of Betsy Ross and to her creative expression, as Broad Street has iconically been the home to artists and art happenings in the city. The reference to the rainbow diversity flag calls out to Broad Street’s location near the vibrant Gayborhood 13th street corridor. Broad Street itself was designed by William Penn’s surveyor, and in the far north connects to Old York Road which was an ancient trail used by the Lenni-Lenape. Their location and relationship illustrate the layers of history in our geographical region, which are represented in my piece by the interconnected lines and shapes in the blue and green section of the flag.
Amanda Milz 