The inspiration for David's flags can from the observation of the immediate aftermath of 9/11:
"Newspapers printed flags for people to cut out and hang in their windows - there were quickly all sorts of decals and stickers available to do the same. Many remained as they slowly began to fade, rot, and decay over time. For the past few years I’ve been collecting examples as I come across them, either online or from various storefronts, windows, car bumpers, trucks, etc. I’ve always found them to be visually intriguing and have painted several of them." - David Silver
David's latest flag piece - Flag (4)
Today, we got our hands on a very new flag that has just gone up for sale so we decided to tease out a little story about David's flags from him.
In conversation with David about his flags
Erin: How long have you been collecting these bumper/window stickers for?
David: Must of been from around 2002-3.
Erin: Do you remember where you found the bumper stickers in particular?
David: Flag (3) was in a window of an antique store in Vermont. I don't know about Flag (4) but it was the cover of a zine I made.
Flag (3) from David
Erin: How long ago?
David: I think I made the zine in 2008.
Erin: Did you start collecting them when you saw them fading and what made you get back to painting them now a decade later?
David: Shouldn't you be blogging about Miley Cyrus not wearing pants or something? Isn't celebrity nudity how you get internet traffic? Stuff about me is so boring.
Erin: True, but someone else has already written about her, I'm sure. So guess we'll be doing faded flags.
David: There's no great answer. I had a studio, didn't know what to paint, always thought it might look interesting.
"I'll settle for not poor and only slightly anonymous" - David Silver
Erin: How many stickers do you now have?
David: 1 or 2.
Erin: Only?? Have those two been painted already?
David: No I only have one or two left that I haven't painted.
David's meticulous hand at work - close up of Flag (4) & Flag (3)
Erin: I guess I'll have to make a request for people to be on the lookout for you- like a charity fundraiser, just with trash.
David: Find someone who has a car & would drive cross-country with me.
Erin: What will you offer in exchange?
David: Terrible companionship & awkward silences.
Erin: Perfect, done.
David: Seriously blog about something else...anything but me.
Erin: Ok off to make you rich and famous. Thanks, for the info.
P.s. damn, even the Huffington Post got Miley- pics and all!
David: I'll settle for not poor and only slightly anonymous but thanks.
