GODS BLESS AMERICA!

The phrase ​“God bless America” has permeated American public discourse since at least 1938, when Irving Berlin released a song by that title that was instantly hailed as a new national anthem. It has since become ubiquitous in political speeches and at sporting events, and has frequently been invoked at times of national crisis. A conceptual artist who often works with text, Alejandro Diaz presents the phrase as a neon sign, making a subtle alteration that, once detected, prompts reconsideration of the potential meaning of the words. The added, flickering ​“S” is a reminder, the artist says, ​“of the many religions practiced in the United States,” and beckons the viewer with the promise of equity and religious freedom.