Huge controversy over flag painting in small town

WAITSBURG, Walla Walla County — This farm town of 1,250 tucked in the hills of Southeast Washington has changed a lot in recent years. It has an upscale eatery — the Whoopemup Hollow Café — that "encourages reservations," an art studio and a brewery that features handcrafted beers.

Still, not everyone was ready for winemaker Charles Smith's conceptual art piece that took form under cover of darkness last Saturday on Main Street.

There, on the old American Legion Post building that he owns, Smith commissioned the painting of a huge American flag in stark black-and-white.

Mayor Markeeta Little Wolf discovered the flag the next day as she took her border collie, Joy, on a walk through town. First, she found an unsettled group of her constituents demanding to know what she thought.

" 'About what?' I asked, and they all said to look at the building," Little Wolf recalled. "I turned around, and the first words out of my mouth were 'oh' — followed by — well, you can fill in the blank."

Since then, the mayor has been fielding dozens of comments from residents, most of them unhappy with the flag art.

The building is in the town's historic district, which recently was spruced up with a $600,000 grant that paid for new lamp posts, brick pavers and planters.

Little Wolf wished Smith had first briefed the city's preservation committee about his plans.

Smith said the flag is intended to honor the military, including his late father, a World War II veteran. The black-and-white color scheme reflects an earlier era when pictures relayed back from the front lines were not in color, he said.

Moreover, he said that black and white "expresses the idea of clear and honest communication."

"The intention is to provoke thought about the future while honoring the past. Where better and more appropriate than on a Main Street in rural America," said Smith, in a video comment he posted on YouTube to promote the artwork.

Smith, who once managed rock bands in Denmark, arrived in Southeast Washington in 2001 with $5,000 and a 1987 Astro van. Since then he has launched four wine companies. His offerings include a 2006 Royal City syrah that recently earned the first perfect score ever given by Seattle Times wine reviewer Paul Gregutt.

"The guy is really a huge talent," Gregutt said. "He just has a very fine grasp of how to make wine that tastes very specific to the vineyard that it comes from. And that's just kind of the holy grail for winemakers."

Smith is based out of Walla Walla, about 21 miles southwest of Waitsburg. In recent years, Smith purchased a house and two buildings in Waitsburg, including the American Legion Post. He plans to open new businesses in the buildings, including a wine-tasting venue.

Smith's art does have vocal supporters in town, including some of the downtown merchants who are hoping the flag will be a tourist draw.

"I think it is an extremely positive contribution to the atmosphere of Waitsburg," said Joy Smith, who two months ago opened Hugs, Gifts and Collectibles across from the old American Legion Post. "This gives your eye a relief. I think it's fun."

Others see it as an eyesore.

"He meant it to be an ambush," said Vance Price, a Korean War-era veteran. "I think he meant to disrespect the town."

Price stuck up posters that alleged Smith was "desecrating the flag," and urged people to call Smith to protest.

On Tuesday, Price received a "cease-and-desist" demand from Smith's attorney.

"While Mr. Smith welcomes public discussion about art, your flier is intended to incite violence against Mr. Smith or destruction of the artwork. This is not acceptable, and will not be tolerated," wrote Frederick Rivera of the Perkins Coie law firm.

Little Wolf, the mayor, said she checked with the White House and U.S. State Department and learned that the black-and-white rendering of the flag was not any sort of desecration.

Little Wolf says some good may come out of the controversy.

In the months ahead, they city will review rules that regulate changes to the historic downtown corridor.

As for what the rules now require, she hesitates to say.

"That's up to smarter people than me. They're called lawyers."

Hal Bernton: 206-464-2581 or hbernton@seattletimes.com