Denver’s Chinatown and the Race Riots of 1880

Medium: Ripstock Fabric and Paint
Dimensions: 5’ x 7’
Year Completed: 2022
Primary Discipline: Fiber Arts
Location: Art Students League of Denver
Public Art Program: Denver Flag Pole Project

The Flagpole Project explores the history of Denver’s soil and pays homage to the lived experiences beneath its rapidly changing landscape. This flag aims to reclaim the narrative of AAPI residents of CO by raising awareness of Denver’s Chinatown and the Race Riots of 1880.

So why tell this story on a flag?

To fly any flag makes a bold statement. Just as a flag is in a perpetual state of movement, so is the life of a city. Impermanence and flux are the only reliable constant.

The style of this flag is based on traditional Chinese Lion Dance performance banners. Performers are introduced ceremoniously with a parade of banners preceding them. Lion dance welcomes luck and prosperity while banishing bad energy. It is commonly performed to celebrate the Lunar New Year, cultural events, and business openings.