That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for July 03, 2020

“Thirteen Stars and Stripes. Don’t you think that’s a little unlucky?”

Betsy was stymied about what to make until she saw some striped candy.

“I’m not sure. Let’s run it up the pole and vote on it.”

Horizontal stripes make it look larger.

Coming soon on What Not to Wave.

“I like it. But it does make your butt look big.”

“Why do I have the urge to take a knee, Betsy?”

no joke, this is a truly horrible painting – looks like a hallmark card, but sappier…

“Does it come in any other colours?”

“It’s either this or Ben’s idea of a flag with a turkey on it.”

“Damn … well … okay”

NOT FUNNY

Doesn’t matter what you think, George, if you don’t start wining, we’ll all be flying the Union Jack.

It’s a beautiful painting.

Two chicks from Munchkinville helping Betsy.

We’re gonna sell them on Etsy!

Is that Tim Gunn’s great great grandfather?

Ugh – the only place that should be flown is on the moon.

No, George, I can assure you that no child labor was used in the production of this flag. Hmm, well, maybe some. I couldn’t stop them.

“It’ll do until we make a few acquisitions.”

“I was thinking more of something in a plaid..”

It should be gayer, can we make each stripe a different color?

The painting sure has a certain glow to it. I wonder what Mr. Moran was nibbling on.

Do you think I can use it as a cape? I can be Captain of the Americas.

So this is the prototype? How fast can you get the word out to Etsy that we’re gonna need a bunch of them?

That’s a nice room – large and spacious, clearly the part of a mansion of a very rich person. And here is where the the American Flag was created. I like the symbolism.

THIRTEEN stars! Well that explains a lot…

George really did like the flag, but he dared not smile without his teeth.

What the heck is that on the kneeler? A turtle? helmet? saddle and riding crop?

Betsy Ross:

“Everybody wants to be an art director

Everybody wants to call the shots

Everybody wants to be a flag dissector

Changing all my stars to polka dots

Everybody thinks that they’re the final word

On what is strictly out and what is in

How’d you like a banner made of pea green spots

On simulated leopard skin

Or possibly a flag that features fleur-de-lis

On ocher corrugated tin?”

.

___ from Everybody Wants To Be An Art Director, Stan Freeburg’s The United States of America Vol.1

What will we ever do with that big thing? We just wanted something small, to pin to our lapels.

The Birth of Old Glory: 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RossBetsy.jpg 

has info and links that point to more info about this print.

https://americanart.si.edu/artist/percy-moran-3401 

https://www.whitemountainart.com/about-3/artists/edward-percy-moran-1862-1935/ 

http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/artists/bio.cfm?id=170383 

https://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Percy_Edward_Percy_Moran/22988/Percy_Edward_Percy_Moran.aspx 

all have info, or links that point to more info, about this artist (again, askart.com can be read in full for free on Fridays), perhaps in addition to what’s pointed to by the title URL. First work by him used here.

Again, a larger strip image is shown by (⌘- or Ctrl-) clicking the image in Mr. Melcher’s MASTERPIECE #2484 (July 3, 2020) blog entry, accessible by the Check out the blog! box after the last comment.

“A CIRCLE of stars!? What constellation is that!?

The painting is sweet and appealing/ but I have a dubious feeling/ that the heart of the plan/ is a gasping black man/ and a cop on his neck…kneeling.

Vertical stripes make it look fat.

the village elders forbad Betsy from wearing the cloth as a dress. I’d rather use something a little less gaudy. especially for the holiday of the forth of July.

Poor taste, not funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ZwR7kNYCk

“As a dress? Hmm??? How about a flag?”

“Yes, that’s a decent comforter, Betsy. Next, I’m going to want a flag…”

“No Betsy, I am NOT going to wear that to the revue of Hamilton this evening!”