Artwork / Archives / Apple Pie / Raha the Riveter (German-Iranian-American, Kristina)
Raha the Riveter (German-Iranian-American, Kristina)
2008
acrylic on canvas
41 x 38 inches
I asked each of the participants in Apple Pie to write something about what it means to be an American. This is Kristina’s response.
To some people, being American is best represented by hot dog, baseball and Elvis. As an 8 year old in Washington D.C., I knew what it meant to be American. On a family vacation, we visited the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. While the flag was revealed, the Star Spangled Banner played in the background. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of belonging and pride. The people who founded and fought for what the United States represents were just like me and my family. They were immigrants. They were scared, but persevered in the face of adversity. They were proud, loyal and believed they had a chance to make something better of both themselves and this country. As we walked away, I turned to my mother with tears in my eyes and told her I was proud to be an American. While I am still proud when it comes to the ideals upon which this nation was founded, I may have lost some faith in its people and government to protect them at all costs. I may be less sure about what it means to be American, but like all Americans, I continue to hope that a better future is still within our grasp.
Since 2008, when I created Apple Pie, the US has changed quite a bit, and I have as well. If I were making this series now, Kristina’s portrait would look very different, because I wouldn’t ask her to don a hijab for this painting, since it was not something she did regularly. At the time, I liked the idea of the headscarf as a nod to the subject’s Iranian heritage. I knew that the image of a woman wearing a hijab posing as Rosie the Riveter would be striking, and it felt important to touch on the way the Iranian government forces all woman to cover, whether or not they want to.
