Rockefeller Center: The Flag Project

​Boston Artist Eddie Bruckner’s work has been selected by Rockefeller Center for its latest public art installation in New York City.
 
The international design challenge was issued in May by the New York City landmark.  Rockefeller Center asked artists to design flags that represented any aspect of New York’s diverse culture and to submit them by June 20.  The competition received more than 1,400 entries from around the world.  Winning entries were selected by Rockefeller Center and a jurying committee comprised of Casey Fremont (Executive Director, Art Production Fund), Ernest Green (civil rights advocate), Margaret Morton (Director of Creativity and Free Expression, Ford Foundation), Faith Ringgold (artist), and the Ali Forney Center. Each winning design was produced into an eight by five foot flag.
  Only 193 flag designs were selected for the temporary public art exhibit.

The flags will fly around The Rockefeller Center’s famous ice rink and restaurant plaza, supplanting the flags of the members of the United Nations that usually fly there. The exhibit was scheduled to be on display from August 1-16, 2020, but due to popular demand, the public art installation has been extended through August 23, 2020.

Bruckner’s flag design features the iconic Statue of Liberty using his signature style of bold lines and the illusion of mosaic tile. “My flag design is based on an original acrylic on canvas painting titled, “Liberty” of the Statue of Liberty holding her torch high and proud, against a blue mosaic-like sky. In many ways the illusion of mosaic tile (it’s all paint) represents the melting pot of people, cultures, immigrants, who arrived in NYC in the past as well as those who call New York City home today.”

Bruckner is a professional visual artist who creates Pop Art original acrylic paintings for the contemporary home and office as well as involved in a variety of public art projects throughout the greater Boston area and beyond.  Bruckner painted piano for the Celebrity Series of Boston and the global art installation, “Play Me, I’m Yours” that was featured at Boston City Hall Plaza with Mayor Marty Walsh in 2016.  The following year, Bruckner was commissioned by the City of Boston’s Public Art Commission to paint an electrical box near Fenway Park, also completed a second electrical box with a Boston Marathon Theme along the Marathon route in Natick, MA.

---

“I’m excited about the actual process of creating Public Art.  My artwork is about having fun, bringing a smile to people’s faces, and at the same time, providing a unique way of experiencing some of our most familiar objects, places, or people.  I view my artwork as a visual representation of happiness, love, and the beautification of physical space and I love how Public Art achieves this goal and reaches so many people.”

---

Bruckner’s flag design is exhibited alongside notable artists and designers such as Carmen Herrera, Christian Siriano, Faith Ringgold, Hank Willis Thomas, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, KAWS, Laurie Anderson, Marina Abramović, Sanford Biggers, Sarah Sze, Shantell Martin, and Steve Powers.
 
Rob Speyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tishman Speyer (the real estate management company of Rockefeller Center) said, “There are as many ways to celebrate the strength, vibrancy, and spirit of New York as there are people in our city.  We are thrilled that so many emerging and acclaimed artists are taking part in The Flag Project, and we are excited to share all the original works in one place, surrounding the beloved skating rink at Rockefeller Center.  Since it was built almost 90 years ago, the Center has been a place to honor our city and reaffirm our longstanding commitment to public art.”

---

The Rockefeller Center Flag Design was based on the Original Acrylic on Canvas Painting by Eddie Bruckner, "Liberty"

Bruckner said, “I'm honored to be a part of this project alongside so many talented artists; a project that brings a little bit of happiness and joy during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Flag Project helps usher in a new era of togetherness and human connection amidst a difficult time.”
 
“Those of us selected have connected on social media.  We have a Facebook page and Instagram handle where we communicate.  It’s been so exciting to see the diverse range of artwork from all over the world.  Those artists living in New York or able to travel there are taking pictures and videos of the public art installation for those artists who can’t be there at this challenging time.”

The exhibition is free and open to the public through August 16, 2020; no tickets are required.  Visitors to this temporary public art installation are encouraged to post photos and videos to social media using the hashtags:  #TheFlagProjectRC and #RockefellerCenter.
 
Additional resources can be found at:

https://www.rockefellercenter.com/flag-project/
 
https://www.eddiebruckner.com/rockefeller-center-flag-project.html
 
https://www.instagram.com/eddiebrucknerfineart