In his search to understand what is iconic, Kit Hinrichs, designer and collector, has been fascinated with the many graphic interpretations of the American flag and how the elements in its design can be parsed into individual colors and patterns, yet are recognizable to millions around the world. The stars and stripes are a national brand, a logo and a symbol that is filled with emotion and levels of meaning that change with the political and cultural climate.

This 8,500-square-foot exhibition at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno included Civil War-era flags, handmade quilts, hundreds of toy-flag-bearing soldiers, weather vanes, jewelry, Native American weavings, political campaign memorabilia, clothing and protest banners, packaging labels and fine-arts photographs.

Starting with a great subject, this is a beautifully curated exhibition. You are motivated to walk through the space not only by the subject matter but also by the composition of the installation. We enjoyed the change in scale, from postage-stamp repetition to large environmental pieces wrapping the space.