Brenda Zlamany's Masked Portrait Flags Displayed in Williamsburg Through April 9

Brenda Zlamany's double-sided mask flags, featuring portraits of living individuals on functional fabrics, are installed above Store For Rent Gallery at 179 Grand Street in Brooklyn, New York. The flags alternate weekly, with Mask Flag 1 depicting Justin Sterling and Joel Lahey, and Mask Flag 2 showing Helen Oji and Adé, visible from the northwest corner of Bedford and Grand. Changes occur at 4 p.m. on Fridays, running through April 9. The works incorporate heraldic elements like symbols and fields, with Sterling's portrait on a cloth resembling a kaffiyeh, blending protection and resistance. Nearby, artist James Esber has historically displayed flags on Grand Street, including recent voting encouragements and witty subversions. Zlamany's pieces align with pandemic-era purposes, using life-saving materials to present real human faces.