News

When you meet Muriel Stockdale, artist, author, and visionary, you quickly sense her work is more than art. It’s an invitation to reflect on who we are as Americans and how we celebrate the richness of our heritage.

Her latest creation, OM1-2026, is a breathtaking textile flag designed for America’s 250th anniversary. Its name, Out of Many, One, draws from our national motto, E Pluribus Unum, reminding us that unity doesn’t erase our differences—it thrives because of them.

This flag is extraordinary.

It’s built from nearly 1,000 hand tracings; each transformed into fabric and stitched into Muriel’s interpretation of stars and stripes. Every hand represents a story, a culture, a voice in the American chorus. Beside the flag, Muriel keeps a book cataloging these hands, creating a living archive of the people who shape our nation.

Our community is part of this story.

At this year’s Cultural Alliance Business Supports the Arts Luncheon, guests from across the region added their own hand tracings to help complete the OM1-2026 flag. Watching hundreds of hands come together was a powerful moment—a living symbol of unity and belonging.

In 2026, the OM1-2026 flag will travel the country as part of America’s 250th celebration, continuing a journey that began in 2011 when Muriel was commissioned by Trinity Church Wall Street to create an earlier version. That original flag hung for nine years, inspiring thousands with its message of hope and inclusion.

Muriel’s artistry spans decades.

Muriel Stockdale’s creative journey spans decades. from designing costumes for NBC and CBS to collaborating with Jim Henson Productions. She has taught at NYU, mentored Emmy and Tony winners, and exhibited her acclaimed E Pluribus flag series in galleries and public spaces nationwide, including Harvard’s Gutman Library and the New Britain Museum of American Art.

At the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, we believe art connects communities and sparks dialogue. Muriel’s OM1-2026 project does just that. It invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the beauty of our shared heritage, values that echo our mission to strengthen community through arts and culture.

So, What’s next?

We’re exploring partnerships to exhibit this flag in our region and create programming that amplifies its message. Imagine schools, libraries, and cultural spaces engaging with this work, sharing stories, tracing hands, and building bridges.