Host: Susan Slesinger
Due Date: Jan. 5,
2013
This month’s challenge will focus on auspicious
numbers. We survived December 21 2012
which was the “end” of the Mayan calendar and a number of people engaged in
special activities to mark 12-12-12. As
we finish 2012, and enter 2013, it seems like the perfect time to play with
auspicious numbers.
In Renaissance art compositions were often arranged to
create a triangle representing the number 3, the holy trinity.
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=14902;type=101
(http://tinyurl.com/FFFC76-1)
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=image;hex=M81_24.jpg
(http://tinyurl.com/FFFC76-2)
In the Chinese tradition certain numbers such as five are
considered auspicious, while others such as four are considered unlucky.
In Judaism there is a practice
of numerology called gematria. In
Hebrew, numbers are written with combinations of letters, similar to Roman
numerals
The best-known auspicious value is 18 which is
equivalent to the value of the letters chet and yud which spells the word
“Chai” which stands for life. Jewish
people often make donations in multiples of 18.
http://judaiquilt.com/Chuppah.html
(Invocation chuppah) (72 is four times 18)
http://www.paulanadelstern.com/quilt-gallery/chai.html Paula’s Kaleidoscope XVIII
The Quilt Group 12 by 12 used the number 12 as the basis for
one of their challenges.
In Japanese culture 1,000 cranes is considered
auspicious. Here are several examples of
quilts based on the 1,000 crane theme
http://www.911memorial.org/response-art-stories (Scroll down to see 1000 crane quilt)
This quilter incorporated her lucky number 7 in a more
subtle way.
If you want to take the concept of numerology further why
not try the idea of using the primary and secondary colors which go with your
auspicious number.
In addition to incorporating a number which is auspicious or
lucky for you in your quilt, why not add to the challenge by incorporating some
form of written text (alphabetic or numeric) into your quilt preferably using a
method you have wanted to experiment with for a long time.
One last note: Have fun with this!
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