Vive le France, Vive le Republic (du banana)

 

From projections of power to subtle undertones, appearances can and do constitute reality.  Reality though, can at times seem like a surreality.  This wonderful building (Seattle's downtown Banana Republic) got my attention on the way to the library. Complete with the banners usually reserved for nations, the building has within it the classical order of Le Brun adorned with a rights of man motif.  However, for all its visual appeals, it celebrates a different kind of triumphalism.  This dissolution of context, only fully recognized after sitting on the sidewalk and sketching, has replaced "Aux armes, citoyens " with "Aux factories des Enfants!", almost without skipping a beat.