# Toy Soldier Patriotism Valerie Leonard Creates USA Flag from 6,000 Toy Figurines By Shelby Lee Walsh | Published 2009-06-17 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toy-soldier-patriotism-valerie-leonard-american-flag References: [joshspear](http://joshspear.com/item/valerie-leonards-toy-soldiers/) & [vldesign.biz](http://www.vldesign.biz/) There is no better way to make an American flag than out of thousands of tiny toy soldiers. Connecticut artist Valerie Leonard built this flag out of a whopping 6,000 of the little guys! Check out Valerie Leonard’s website to see more of her work. She does some really awesome [pet portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bourdon-street-chippy) too! **Implications** - Much of the United States is consumed with thoughts of war, and patriots and anti-war protestors alike are creating art that makes a political statement. The use of toy soldiers in this American flag adds a double-edged degree of intensity: the toys represent real-life soldiers, but they also evoke nostalgia, as many of the soldiers who are now at war once played with these toys as children. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.1/10 - Popularity: 4% | Activity: 21% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Political Art:** The creation of art as a medium for making political statements is a growing trend in today's society. - **Nostalgia Revival:** Nostalgia is being incorporated into various forms of art and design, evoking emotions and capturing attention. - **Miniature Collectibles:** The use of miniature figurines and toys in art projects is gaining popularity, offering a unique and eye-catching aesthetic. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art and Design:** Artists and designers have the opportunity to explore new mediums and techniques to create politically charged artwork. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Nostalgic elements can be leveraged in marketing campaigns to create emotional connections with consumers. - **Toy Manufacturing:** The demand for unique and collectible miniature figurines presents an opportunity for toy manufacturers to tap into this niche market. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Playful Interactive Galleries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/play-by-american-express-platinum.md) - [Travel-Inspired Canvas Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-passport-series.md) - [Pixelated Toy-Like Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/litebrite-pop-wow-wall-art.md) - [Pop Art Factory Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-campbells-soup.md) - [Immigration System-Inspired Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/passport-series.md) - [Home-Defining Artistic Flags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everything-is-temporary.md) - [Artful Motion Toy Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nina-chanel-abney-bravo.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Iconic Artist Toy Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-ideas-bob-ross.md)