Cauleen Smith:
Shiny Things for
My Quartermaster

The exhibition Shiny Things for My Quartermaster: Seven Swallowtail Flags at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture featured seven flags by artist Cauleen Smith, installed atop three historic buildings. Inspired by U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps flags, the works honored the contributions of Black service members who served under segregation at Fort Mason. The exhibition identity and signage—like the flags themselves—encouraged viewers to look upward and consider a new perspective on the site.

Building on this theme, the signage system extended the vivid color palette of the flags across two surfaces simultaneously. Bold arrow graphics were applied directly onto the asphalt, appearing to launch upward and physically transform into freestanding A-frame signs. Positioned near each building, the signs provided context about the artist and directed visitors toward the exhibition hub in Landmark Building B.