State of America Print Series

January 7, 2013 6:34 AM

State of America from Julian Montague: I was recently commissioned to create a series of prints for Print Collection.com. The series depicts the surprisingly diverse and slightly strange official insignia of the American states. There are 50 (18x24 inch) prints in the series (titled State of America), including birds, mammals, grains, fossils, minerals, insects and more.
posted by OmieWise (12 comments total)

What does he mean, exactly, by "official insignia"? I take it to mean "official seal". In which case, Indiana should be represented by either a buffalo running for its life, or a guy wielding an axe as he de-forests the state. The Cardinal is merely our state bird, as it is with a ton of other states.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:55 AM on January 7, 2013

What does he mean, exactly, by "official insignia"? I take it to mean "official seal".

I don't think that's it. I think he means - state bird, state mammal, state fossil, state insect, state dance, etc.
posted by IvoShandor at 7:08 AM on January 7, 2013

State insignia are more broadly defined as all those things that the state designates as representing it, therefore the cardinal counts for Indiana. Here is the section from the relevant Ohio code designating the state insignia. You'll notice that everything from the state tree to the state fossil is designated.
posted by OmieWise at 7:10 AM on January 7, 2013

Sorry, I should have specified that the Ohio code is titled: "Chapter 5: STATE INSIGNIA; SEALS; HOLIDAYS." They are called "insignia" in the law.
posted by OmieWise at 7:16 AM on January 7, 2013

I wish his choice for North Carolina was more interesting. We've got some super dumb state symbols (official state blue berry...blueberries), but we've got some interesting ones like an official state dog and an official state boat, but he went with emerald which is pretty boring.

We also seem to be the only state with an official state toast(as in a drinking toast), but I understand that that would be hard to represent visually.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:19 AM on January 7, 2013

Don't forget the state beverage Bulgaroktonos. The fact that is not Sweet Tea merits some kind of investigation and prosecution.
posted by marxchivist at 7:27 AM on January 7, 2013

In general I like these, but the mineral ones kind of seem like cop outs.
posted by brennen at 7:37 AM on January 7, 2013

Heh, he lives near me! Brushes with greatness...
posted by gorbichov at 7:45 AM on January 7, 2013

Pennsylvania has large bedbugs?
posted by de at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2013

I like some of them, but got bummed at how simple and lame my favorite states looked. Then I realized I should spend more time in other states, so I'd know all the states well. Except North Dakota. North Dakota is perfectly represented.
posted by Grandysaur at 8:40 AM on January 7, 2013

We also seem to be the only state with an official state toast.

I am so disappointed that it wasn't Cinnamon Toast.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:00 AM on January 7, 2013

I take it to mean "official seal".

An official pinniped would be neat.
posted by carter at 11:30 AM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]