The Spirit of Independence

The Spirit of Independence: Kent Bicentennial Portfolio  is part of the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial celebration, features work from 12 artists who were asked to create pieces that answered one question: "What does independence mean to you?" 

With this question, and freedom to interpret its meaning, the selected artists present twelve very different perspectives on independence, from the historical to the highly personal, from the theoretical to the symbolic. Artists in the portfolio include Alex Katz, Audrey Flack, Colleen Browning, Edward Ruscha, Fritz Scholder, Jacob Lawrence, Joseph Hirsch, Larry Rivers, Marisol Escobar, Red Grooms, Robert Indiana, and Will Barnet. The Kent Bicentennial Portfolio was printed in an edition of 125 and given to museums across the United States—including the Alaska State Museum.