When one thinks of art, the common images that would come to people’s minds would likely include painting on a canvas, forming clay, chipping at marble, or blowing glass. These are based on our experiences in school art classes, visits to museums, and fairs, however, art can sometimes come from unexpected mediums.

Many reading this know the story of Herbert Hoover’s efforts to feed starving citizens in northern France and Belgium during World War I. It was an amazing feat to feed 9.5 million people every day until the end of the war. What some may not realize is that the flour sacks perilously shipped through waters patrolled by U-boats and into areas controlled by German soldiers were used as art projects. Some were sent as a thank you to the Hoovers and others sold in London, Paris, and New York to raise funds for the Commission for the Relief of Belgium.

Native American themes were popular in Europe at the time.

This past week, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum Curator Marcus Eckhardt hosted two sessions of Ask an Archivist/Converse with a Curator, where he showcased a variety of Belgian flour sacks and explained their history to visitors. These events take a deeper dive into specific historical topics and give visitors the option to ask questions and have conversations about the objects or documents on display.

This incredible work was created by Belgian artist Piet Van Engelen.

One common expression of this art came from Belgian school girls. Just like we had our art classes in school, the children of Belgium would embroider sacks with notes of thanks and often some notation of the school to which they attended.

American workers wore baseball uniforms made from flour sacks on July 4, 1915.

In the Museum, the temporary exhibit Thrift Style also demonstrates the concept of upcycling. This was demonstrated in the manner in which the feed sacks were repurposed for quilts, clothing, and decorative textile items that were in common use in households beginning in the mid-1920s up into the 1960s. This exhibit was organized by the Historic Costume and Textile Museum and the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, both at Kansas State University.

Curator Marcus Eckhardt explains the detail in an embroidered flour sack to visitors.

Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator is a monthly program of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. You can look at their calendar here for future events. Thrift Style is a temporary exhibit at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and closes on April 30.

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