Colorful Flags Of Hope Coming To Boulder

BOULDER, CO — Boulderites can expect to see vibrant flags hung downtown in the new year as part of a project that aims to inspire people to "imagine a brighter future," the University of Colorado Boulder announced Tuesday.

Two of the university's graduate students are leading the creation of colorful Flags of Hope — Banderas de Esperanza. The flags will be hung outside storefronts along Denver's Art District on Santa Fe in January, and hung in Boulder One Plaza in February, the university said.

Alejandra Abad and Román Anaya, collaboratively known as 'Abad◮Anaya,' will share phrases of hope in multiple languages that have been printed, painted, sewn and ironed onto flags by the community, CU Boulder said. The artists are encouraging community members to help create the flags.

Abad, an artist and master of fine arts candidate in art and art history, said he was motivated to create the project in an effort to combat social isolation amid the pandemic and political division during this election year.

“We have to create spaces that allow for the spirit of humanity to thrive, and not separation,” Abad said in a statement.

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Throughout December, people are asked to submit their messages of hope online and help create the flags, which will also be displayed online in a virtual experience: 'Our Wishes | Nuestros Deseos.'

“I think it's perfect timing for us to share these really hopeful messages that people are giving us, and to start on a more positive note in 2021,” said Anaya, who is also a master of fine arts candidate in CU Boulder's Interdisciplinary Media Arts Practices.

“With these flags we can amplify hope and usher in a new year with wonderful diversity.”

>> Read the full story and find out how you can participate at CU Boulder.