Hex Signs
Thinking of the “Eye” of the [Gustav] Storm and “the evil eye” and “putting a hex on you” sayings, as well as my previous post below, Demystifying Hex Signs, the Colorful Soul of Pennsylvania Dutch Decor, was an interesting article by Mariella Savidge featured in the Washington Post. I like symbols and I have used many in my illustration work as well as my murals. I learned a lot from this article about the meaning of hex signs — typically used for good luck, particularly painted on the side of barns by the Pennsylvania Dutch. Some symbols date back to Norse and even pagan art and were sometimes used as means of symbolic protection, but as this culture became less afraid of the unknown, they are now primarily used as colorful decoration.
Here’s a link to the Kutztown Festival to see other symbols and their meanings as well as to learn about the folk life.
Perhaps we need a hex sign for the next hurricane. Thankfully Gustav wasn’t as bad a predicted…I hope my family members and friends, as well as the rest of the residents, can return soon too New Orleans.
And now, we have several more hurricanes to watch, Hanna, Ike and Josephine, heading directly up the East coast. I’m going to write a few advance published posts in anticipation that we may lose our power. Hopefully not, and we can have a good weekend.
casart
I'm an artist, wife and mother of two boys. I started my illustration business, The Occasional Palette over 35 years ago, when my oldest son was an infant. Once my children were in school, I began painting decorative, faux finishes and murals through my second business, Casart, now over 30 years old. My third business, Casart Coverings, is a springboard from my second. Click on the link on the sidebar to see innovative, custom, designer wallcovering, removable and reusable wallpaper and coordinating decor.
