America: Land of Civil War

By Mallory Kimmel
Adjunct Professor, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design

The project “America: Land of Civil War” engages with 155 American Civil War covers from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection. Civil War “covers” are envelopes printed with nationalistic iconography to display political allegiance during the Civil War, and they testify to the nationalistic rhetoric of the era. This imagery was exchanged and disseminated through all forms of written correspondences, and displayed the divisive opposition of the time.

The current project presents American Civil War covers from the collection with contemporary socio-political and socio-economic critiques of life in America today. These contemporary texts are written on reproductions of the historical covers to collapse time and space, depicting the same topics of political contention 162 years later. The title of the series, “America: Land of Civil War,” illustrates the idea that the American government is designed to keep its people in conflict as a mechanism to resist institutional change. A portion of the project is published below.

Artist Statement

As an artist, the focus of my practice centers on power dynamics and their relationship to exclusionary design. Living through the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessing the insurrection on television, watching the repeal of Roe v. Wade, and seeing the implementation of transphobic legislation has illustrated the precursory threats to contemporary life. America is in a malleable state where we are presently redefining what it means to be an American. Presenting past and present failures of American leadership within this project is done to ensure that they are not repeated, rather, intentionally eradicated.

I want these contemporary testimonials to voice the human condition. We for the past three years have withstood a global health crisis and witnessed a mass population dieback. We have suffered through the economic peril of inflation, shipment supply shortages and the loss of businesses and places that offered us a sense of belonging. Human rights are being repealed, from the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, womxn and all other intersectional communities. To support our needs, we have to reckon with the shortcomings of the past to navigate how we ought to move forward.

The impetus for this project is to connect the false promises of the past where the rhetoric of “liberty for all” was paraded while systematically upholding a practice of governing its citizens “to live and let die.” I aim to validate our current experiences through testimonials and relate them to the history of our country’s exclusionary design processes. The result will illustrate the successful perpetuation of social conflict used to divert our attention away from the institutions and people that perpetuate these exploitative cycles. We cannot blindly charge forward without unpacking the history that brought us to our current circumstances. Engaging with this project of assessing the unchanging problems of America for over 162 years creates the fertile ground for analytical thought and inspired action. Now is the time to remain critical and vigilant as we are vulnerable to opportunistic leaders.

Historical envelope shows the slogan "Death to Traitors" beneath an image of a firing canon and American Flag. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "It is said that America has not had a war on domestic soil for over 200 years. This common misconception does not account for the War on Terror, the War on Drugs and the execution of African Americans by police officers and jury members. — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows the slogan "To Cure Rebellion / 'This is the Pill that will Cure or Kill'" alongside an image of a bomb. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "If it's our youth that take military grade weapons into schools to massacre their peers, if those assembled to maintain order are those that lead state-sanctioned assassinations, and if political division were the only thing that unifies us then are we not a country already in the midst of a civil war?" — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows two red-tinted images. One depicts a soldier advancing with a bayonet, with an American flag and abandoned military drum behind him. The other shows the exterior of the War Department building. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "What is the difference between war and warfare? Warfare is the action of war; the battles and moments of peril we Americans might imagine exists in fields, deserts, or forests. But if war is not active in the manner that warfare is; then when does war end?" — *Reproduction of a historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows two red-tinted images. One depicts George Washington in uniform, with his left arm extended. The other shows the exterior of the War Department building. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "If war is not just a verb, but also a noun, then war does not simply start and end. War always exists." — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows the text "Emblem of our Nations Liberty" beneath an image of an eagle carry a seal depicting the starts and stripes. The word "Union!" appears at the top of the envelope in a stars-and-stripes pattern. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "American politics have placed all hot button issues into a binary structure. All nuance is lost and the gradation of option sustains opposition; even among those considered on the same side." — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows the text "Our hearts are with them" beneath a red-toned image of a woman in a cap who is seated and sewing by lamplight. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "Energy is lost fighting each other on the topic of gun control when pro gun people could take up arms against the government allowing our children to get murdered in schools where they are legally required to attend. — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows an image of the American flag with the text, "The real people must rule everywhere, attributed to Vox Populi. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "Placing a former reality TV star as president did conflate the news with entertainment, presenting political parties as a melodrama. Not fake news but scripted television" — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows an image of a man climbing an American flag and waving a hammer or mallet in his right hand. There is red text beneath the image: "Forever shall it wave, our Nation's Emblem, bidding defiance to Rebels and Traitors!" Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "Two years ago was January 6, 2021, the mark of a direct militia act from a right wing extremist group, incited by former President Trump, which single-handedly was an act permitted by the leader of our county, to enact civil warfare and topple our democracy. — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope shows an image in blue ink with the text, "Entered according to Act of Congress, 1861, by Brown & Ryan, in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of N.Y. / Behold the man! He said that COTTON Would surely make them inde-pendant" But see, my friends, 'the strong he's got on,' A fit adornment to the end on't." The image shows a lion on the left, Uncle Sam kicking a barrel labeled "Cotton," and a man hanging from scaffolding in the center. Behind Uncle Sam is a tree labeled "Liberty," with an eagle perched on a branch, wings spread. Handwritten, contemporary text reads: "Institutions build blind spots to neglect those they refuse to serve. They only choose to see them to make an example out of their punishment." — *Reproduction of historical envelope with contemporary text.*

Historical envelope with designated areas for return address and stamp in red ink. Red text says, "POSTMASTER will please return this, if the party addressed is not found, to" on the left and "STAMP" on the right. Handwritten, contemporary text reads, "Our buildings might not be blown up by bombs, but they're being shattered in construction to create a new for of refugee; not one by war, but one of gentrification and urbanizations which houses a different form of displacement and fracture of identity." — *Reproduction of a historical envelope with contemporary text.*

About Mallory Kimmel

Mallory Kimmel is a Washington, D.C.-based artist, educator and writer whose practice centers on power dynamics and their relationship to exclusionary design practices. She works in sculpture, performance, social practice and critical writing. Formally trained in the arts, Kimmel received a M.F.A. in fine art from California College of the Arts, and bachelor’s degrees in studio art and ecology from Susquehanna University.