Portland Association 1 ISSN 2474-1787

Portland Flag Association “Free, and Worth Every Penny!” Issue 68 February 2018

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Of Arms and Silks

Of Arms and Silks 1 By David Ferriday This past year, while watching January 2018 Flutterings 2 Northern New Jersey is not exactly some of the races on TV and Roundup 5 horse country—it’s not Texas appreciating the designs and colors in : A Report #1 6 Wyoming—and yet that’s where of the silks, it occurred to me that A New Flag for Coral Springs 8 there is a distinct similarity be- 9 I grew up with a liking for horses. Forthcoming Books tween a mounted knight in armor Sutherlin – City of Flags 10 Perhaps Roy Rodgers, or maybe with his “coat” of arms, and the The Flag Quiz 11 Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, Portland Flag Miscellany 12 had something to do with it. mounted jockey in silks—each Next Meeting 12 providing instant identification at a As a boy I saved my pennies, distance. How marvelous! nickels, and dimes so that I could www.portlandflag.org go on trail rides on Saturdays. I’m thinking that the use of coats There was a stable in Millburn, of arms preceded the widespread the next town over away from use of flags in military endeavors. That’s something for historians to New York City, that abutted the Watchung Reservation, a park look into. But today the use of a where we could ride back then. thoroughbred owner’s silks can be just as interesting and exciting to I have always watched the big me as any flag waving. horse races on TV—the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup, and others. Things that always caught my eye were the designs of the

jockeys’ silks. The patterns and colors can be very interesting.

Ted Kaye once explained to me that the term “” refers to the coats, or perhaps tunics, worn by knights over their armor, The jockey is there to guide, help, drive, cajole, or even hoax and who would otherwise be diffi- his horse into the winner’s cult to identify as friend or foe. enclosure, but he cannot go faster than the horse. —Dick Francis If you wish to compliment the editor, or to contribute in the future, contact Ted Kaye at 503-223-4660 or [email protected]. If you wish to complain, call your mother.

2 The Tabloid January 2018 Flutterings You Need to Know In our January meeting, hosted by John Schilke, 13 PFA members enjoyed an eclectic 3-hour evening of flags. In the usual role of the host, John moderated the discus- sion.

John welcomed everyone, recog- nizing the 100th anniversary of Finnish Independence last month—Michael Orelove then presented him with a Finnish flag reflector.

Michael Orelove and Kathleen Forrest show the proper way to fold the flag of Turkey, both in regular and funerary uses.

Liam Dubay, home on break from Kathleen Forrest described how his first year at Whitman College, her granddaughters’ interest in shared flags he’d designed for his flags is promoted by Michael’s friends—some with Star Wars occasional packages bearing flags. symbolism. He found the Pantone Nathaniel Mainwaring shared his color system very challenging. Host John Schilke moderates the original cartoon about flags, and assembly of PFA members. Michael Orelove celebrated his then acted it out. 75th birthday in December (serenaded by a tuba orchestra in Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square). PFA members joined in with photos for a commemorative book. He recently wrote the Unit- ed Nations offices of all member countries asking for information about folding and disposal, receiving 7 responses. He demonstrated the proper Liam Dubay unveils flags designed for Nathaniel Mainwaring shows his Whitman College classmates. method of folding a Turkish flag. flag-themed cartoon.

February 2018 Portland Flag Association 3

Ted Kaye gave a report on devel- opments within NAVA and passed around his usual clippings file, then let a name-that-flag session with flags acquired in Spain in 1985.

Ken Dale, a member with John Schilke of the Portland Scandinavi- an Choir, described flag use at the 33rd annual Portland ScanFair.

Ted Kaye shares flags from Spain, acquired there in 1985. He only collects flags from places he has visited; the flags in his collection must come from the places they represent.

Ken Dale describes flag use at the 2017 Portland ScanFair in December.

Scott Mainwaring shares the most recent Flag Research Quarterly.

Max Liberman, taking copious notes, sparked a lengthy discussion of the relationship between vexil- lology and .

Scott Mainwaring described NAVA’s recent Flag Research Quarterly, featuring an article by Jessie Spillers reflects on the flag Max Liberman leads the discussion of of Hawaii. and vexillography. Continued on next page

4 The Vexilloid Tabloid

David Koski reflects on the principles of flag design.

Patrick Ka‘a‘noi on the Hawaiian flag; Jessie Spillers recalled his own presentation on the subject a David Ferriday explores minimalist flags, while back. Scott’s impending inspired by Piet Mondrian and Josef Albers. move to Seattle will not reduce his support for the PFA and its web identify otherwise nameless horse- him, the customary task of the next presence. He and Bill Trinkle men—is jockey silks. He showed host. (Bear Flag Museum) moderate the some that he’d borrowed from an Flags and Vexillology Facebook employee of Portland Meadows, page, which is growing rapidly— our local horse track (see p. 1). over 1,700 members at last count. Fred Paltridge began with a discus- David Koski recounted his sion of football team logos and training and development as an flags, then described his thought artist, reflecting on how the recent that each month should have a proliferation of city flag design pair of colors—e.g. October = efforts mirrors the democratization and black. He solicited of typesetting with the advent of thoughts on colors for May and computer software for it. June, having developed proposals for the rest of the months. David Ferriday cited Mondrian and Most of his references involve Albers as artistic influences, then U.S. holidays (see p. 5). exhibited minimalist flag designs using two squares and three prima- Our next meeting will be at the ry colors. He also recounted his residence of Patrick Genna on realization that the modern equiva- 8 March. Scott took the Portland Fred Paltridge outlines his lent of coats of arms—used to Flag Association flag home for colors-for-months scheme.

February 2018 Portland Flag Association 5 Roundup

Fred Paltridge believes each month should have a pair of colors, de- rived from a concept or event hon- ored during the month. He has developed a list designed to avoid duplicating the first color.

Month / Honoring / Colors January—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day— Black & Brown February—Valentine’s Day—Pink & Red March—St. Patrick’s Day—Green & Orange April—Earth Day—Blue & Green May—May Flowers—White & Green June—Gay Pride—Purple & Pink Norway contains at least five other national flags. July—Independence Day—Red & Blue What other flags can produce similar flags-in-flags? August—Hiroshima/Nagasaki—Yellow & Red September—9/11/2001—Silver & Black Following our call in VT#66 for October—Halloween—Orange & Black Gadsden Flag variants, here are two interesting items. A graphic from November—Thanksgiving—Brown & the Washington Post (8/25/14) and an unusual combination of Chinese December—Pearl Harbor—Navy Blue & and font with the Gadsden White flag images, color, and text. Now we wonder how these might translate into flags!

In an amusing example of something, we’re not sure what, this vendor charges 60% more for a French Flag pillow over the price of a Dutch flag pillow—and the images are actually rotated. [thanks to Mason Kaye]

6 The Vexilloid Tabloid Flags in Ireland: A Field Report, Installment 1 By Ted Kaye After ICV 27 in London in August 2017 I had the opportunity to tour Ireland. Flag use there is so preva- lent that this report must occur in installments—this on focuses on county/sport flags.

Summer seems to be prime flag season in Ireland—spurred in part by the Gaelic Athletic Associa- tion’s football and hurling champi- onship seasons.

The GAA, the Irish international amateur sporting and cultural or- ganization, has aligned its competi- tion by county, and local pride and sporting partisanship find parallel expression in flag display.

These flags show great variety, with color most important. Donegal (Dhún na nGall).

Ted Kaye buys the sporting flags of Waterford (Port Láirge) and (Corcaigh) Tipperary (Thiobraid Árann). from vendor on a busy street as tens of thousands of their fans approached Croke Park for a Gaelic football match. Continued on next page February 2018 Portland Flag Association 7

Mayo (Maigh Eo).

Galway (Gaillimh). Celebrating both Galway and Mayo. Kerry (Chiarraí).

8 The Vexilloid Tabloid A New Flag for Coral Springs, Florida

By Scott Mainwaring Congratulations to Dale Williams, winner of the Coral Springs flag design contest. His flag replaces a previous flag featuring the city .

Coral Springs, Florida (former flag)

The city began exploring a new flag after students in Kristi Gilroy’s Dale Williams displays his winning design for the new flag of second- and third-grade class at Coral Springs, Florida. Country Hills Elementary School notified Mayor Skip Campbell that sions in favor of the more complex the original flag violated all five designs in the six finalists. basic rules of flag design. The city led a competition with all 80 sub- Some of the other simpler submis- missions displayed at the Museum sions deserve, in my opinion, at of Art and six finalists selected by a least an “honorable mention”: panel and offered for a public vote. The public and the panel chose the same winning design. The city Color palette approved for Coral Springs city branding. commission adopted the new flag 28 June 2017. than others, as wear is a complicat- Like many such contests, Coral ed dye-dependent photochemical Springs referenced the Roman reaction. Mars TED Talk and the Good Flag, Unfortunately, contradicting those Bad Flag guidelines. However, instructions, the contest also pro- Possible “honorable mentions”. somehow the third guideline (Use moted the use of the “palette of 2–3 colors) turned into “Use basic colors … approved for the cities The six finalists were explained: colors: Flags wear over time, and [sic] branding”. using basic colors ensures a long Finalist 1: “The flag represents the lifespan. Limit yourself to 3 colors Furthermore, the judges apparently breathtaking Everglades sunset that from a standard 10-pack of mark- disregarded the importance of the city is lucky enough to have in ers.” However, it’s unclear that simplicity in flag design by passing its own backyard.” “basic colors” wear any less quickly over a number of simpler submis- Continued on next page

February 2018 Portland Flag Association 9 Finalist 2 (winner): “Florida, Forthcoming Books ‘Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky’. Just like the title to the State By Scott Mainwaring of Florida’s official anthem, Coral Sunni Ali: Here To This Flag Springs reflects what is still true to of Mine, due 1 April 2018. “An this State. On the edge of one of examination of Black loyalty to the the Florida Everglades, this flag Finalist 1 flag, this book looks at the views reminds us of each level the city of Frederick Douglass, Muham- has grown into and gazes into the mad Ali, Colin Kaepernick, Al future of greater things to come.” Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Sr., and Finalist 3: “From sunrise to sunset many others. It reviews the re- ….the City of Coral Springs has sponse of the Civil Rights move- everything under the sun! The ment and Black Lives Matter”. (Dr. bands of color were inspired by a Ali is an assistant professor in recent sunset experienced in our Finalist 2 (winner) African American studies at city. The bands can also represent, Northeastern Illinois University.) along with the rays of the sun in https://www.amazon.com/Here- the logo, the many amenities we This-Flag-Mine-Sunni/ have or the diversity of our city.” dp/0910030286

Finalist 4: “The sun is actually a Rob Sanders ‘C’. The palm tree is an ‘S’—Coral (author) & Steven Springs. The sun and tree repre- Finalist 3 Salerno sent the perfect day. The blue (illustrator). Pride: background represents the endless The Story of possibilities found in our city and Harvey Milk and the ever-growing city itself. The the Rainbow white circle represents unity.” Flag. Children’s picture book, due 10 April 2018. https:// Finalist 5: “The sun radiates www.amazon.com/Pride-Story- Finalist 4 through a light blue sky over our Harvey-Milk-Rainbow-ebook/dp/ ‘City of Everything’, surrounded B0776JW96M by a deeper blue band representing beautiful pools, waterways, foun- Robin Jacobs tains, and Aquatic Complex, (author) & Robert bordered by a curve of green for Fresson our renown landscaping, parks, (illustrator). Fly- and trees. The design proclaims ing Colors: A Coral Springs is a beautiful place!” Finalist 5 guide to flags from around the Finalist 6: “When designing the world. Children’s flag: The sun represents the core book, due 6 March 2018. https:// of Coral Springs. The blue rays www.amazon.com/Flying-Colors- represent the extension of family, guide-flags-around/ while keeping the brand of the dp/1908714468 logo in the flag.” Finalist 6

10 The Vexilloid Tabloid Sutherlin – City of Flags

By Michael Orelove Driving north on Interstate 5 from southern Oregon, Kathleen and I passed the town of Sutherlin. A large sign there states “Sutherlin – City of Flags”. When I got home I did some research.

Close to the woods of Douglas Sutherlin, the self-described “City of Flags” in southern Oregon, County, Oregon, in 1948 Sutherlin has created a Historic Flag Walk with proclaimed itself “Timber Town” monuments to past versions of the and initiated Timber Days celebra- American Flag, sponsored by local tions during the 4th of July holi- businesses and civic groups. days. photos: Sutherlin Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. Sutherlin, population 8,000, now calls itself the “City of Flags” and has developed a Flag Walk in the downtown area by Central Park. When completed, the Flag Walk will have 28 flag monuments, one for each of version of the Ameri- can Flag, from Betsy Ross to the current stars and stripes.

About a dozen monuments have been purchased/sponsored so far. Each is engraved with a descrip- tion of the flag, a historic narrative describing what was going on dur- ing that time in history, and the logo of the sponsoring business or civic group.

Sponsoring a Flag Monument is a lifetime advertising investment “at just $3,200” and offers a sponsors a stake in the local tourism econo- my, according to the Sutherlin Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

On our next trip to the area we plan to stop and salute the flags.

February 2018 Portland Flag Association 11 What’s that Flag? What Was that Flag? Answers to the last quiz

By Bill Neckrock By Scott Mainwaring Can ewe identify these seven flags These “fusion flags”, designed by and the theme that unites them? Pedro Lasch, each combine the flags of four countries in alphabeti- Answers in the next issue… cal (see VT#67). Kudos to solvers John Cartledge, Bill Neckrock, and Mike Thomas. Tuvalu/Uganda/Ukraine/United Arab Emirates

Israel/Italy/Jamaica/Japan Guinea/Guinea Bissau/Guyana/Haiti

Colombia/Comoros/Congo / Congo- Micronesia/Moldova/Monaco/ Kinshasa (correction to VT#67) Mongolia

Papua New Guinea/Paraguay/Peru/ Singapore/Slovakia/Slovenia/ Philippines Solomon Islands

12 The Vexilloid Tabloid Portland Flag Miscellany

The poster for the 42nd Portland International Film Festival uses design elements from national flags, while avoiding any specific references.

Former mayor Vera Katz (shown here The cross of Ireland’s patron saint with PFA co-founder John Hood, the (Brigid) mirrors Portland’s flag day Portland adopted its revised flag (photo at the Gallarus Oratory on the in 2002) died in December at age 84. Dingle Peninsula).

When the PFA proposed the flag’s A bedraggled Portland flag flies Souvenir versions of St. Brigid’s cross update—working with Doug Lynch, under the Stars and Stripes at the are very common across Ireland. the original designer—Mayor Katz USS Oregon memorial on the water- This one is fashioned from woven enthusiastically supported the idea. front, next to the mast from that reeds. famous battleship, launched in 1893.

March Meeting

The next meeting of the Portland Flag Association will be at 7 PM, Thursday, 8 March 2018, in the community space at the home of Patrick Genna: 1865 N.E. Davis, Portland, OR 97232.

See the map at right.

We look forward to seeing those of you who have missed recent meetings and engaging in provoca- tive flag-related discussion. Newcomers are welcome!

If you can’t get to the meeting, perhaps you can give the editor something to share with readers. The Vexilloid Tabloid , founded in 1999 by the late John Hood, is published bi-monthly by and for the Portland Flag Association—Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Find back issues at www.portlandflag.org.

February 2018