The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA) and the Department of Art & Design at Cal State San Bernardino will present “Red Flags,” a contemplative public artwork by artist David Allen Burns, on view across the CSUSB campus from Feb. 23 through May 15. Created as part of the university’s Artist-in-Residency program, the installation transforms the campus landscape into a space for quiet reflection on civic participation and collective responsibility.

“Red Flags” consists of handmade red fabric flags, each sewn by hand and mounted on 36-inch wooden dowels. The flags are installed on streetlamps and vertical structures throughout campus at approximately eight feet above ground, visible yet slightly out of reach and positioned within peripheral vision as subtle indicators in the everyday landscape. Containing no text, logos or slogans, the flags function as visual punctuation marks that invite viewers to pause and reflect on their relationship to public space and civic life.

“This project is conceived as a simple, symbolic gesture,” Burns said. “It is not aligned with a political party or ideology. It is an invitation to awareness.”

The red flag carries centuries of shared visual history, signaling caution in contexts such as naval navigation, military operations and auto racing, while also serving as a linguistic metaphor for warning. Burns draws on this collective understanding without assigning the symbol to a specific cause, leaving space for individual interpretation and conversation.

Since 2015, public discourse in the United States has increasingly centered on divisive “us versus them” rhetoric visible across government and community life. “Red Flags” acknowledges this climate without amplifying it. Instead, the project recalls the founding phrase “We, the People” as a reminder that civic life depends on participation, dignity and shared responsibility.

“The purpose is simple,” Burns said. “To signal that attention is required and that thoughtful engagement remains possible.”

The installation will be visible throughout the CSUSB campus in public rights of way, including walkways, plazas and gathering spaces. The exhibition is free and accessible to all campus visitors.

The exhibition is part of an ongoing collaboration between RAFFMA and the CSUSB Department of Art & Design during Burns’ artist residency. Together, they are developing “The Beauty of Becoming,” a multi-phase series of art projects taking place across the Inland Empire over the next two years. Works created during the residency will culminate in Burns’ upcoming solo exhibition, “Art of Dreaming,” scheduled to open at RAFFMA in spring 2027.

Burns is an artist whose work explores public space, civic engagement and collective memory through site-specific interventions. For more than two decades, much of this work has been produced through the arts collaborative Fallen Fruit, creating commissioned artworks for museum spaces, public parks, biennials and private collections.

About RAFFMA

The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA), nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, houses one of the largest displays of ancient Egyptian art in Southern California and maintains significant collections of ceramics and contemporary art. The museum presents 10-12 temporary exhibitions annually and provides CSUSB students with hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for careers in the arts. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $3. Parking at CSUSB is $10 per vehicle.

Museum Hours
Monday–Friday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Second Saturday of each month)
Sunday: Closed