As borders closed during Covid-19 pandemic, my usual yearning for travel was replaced by a newfound appreciation for exploring local communities in Ohio, the place I’ve called home since immigrating to the USA 20 years ago. I noticed freshly hung American flags everywhere ahead of the 2020 presidential election, and they became a prominent facet of my photographic journey through which I reflected on what patriotism means to me. Flourishing with revitalized fervour during Trump’s presidency, the nation’s greatest symbol became a partisan statement. The politicization of the flag often meant that people on one side of the political chasm displayed it proudly, while others took it down fearing any association with Trump and his allies. Ohio is often the bellwether for the whole country, and this moment in the flag’s history, even if temporary, symbolizes the division which pulls our nation further apart. This photo series seeks to reclaim the American flag as a representation of unity in a country where people from all walks of life can live freely. The stars and stripes will carry more power when backed by actions, humility, and love for one another, instead of adherence to any politicians’ ideology.
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About
Angela Atamas is a Ukrainian-American photographer based in the Midwest, USA. Her work explores the relationship between art and wandering. Be it meandering of the mind or literal wandering, the serendipity of it bestows intriguing ideas that hadn’t occurred to her before and transforms them into pictures. Conversely, a painting may delight her on canvas first and then urges her to travel to where the art was made. As borders closed during Covid-19 pandemic, she gained a new appreciation for exploring local communities and challenged herself to tell their stories. Her photographic timeline captures contemporary moods, events, and behaviours which usher in a new era while reflecting on our collective past.

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