Images(4)

Mishpachah

Object number2019.20.1

Manufacturer Louise Silk

Date1995

MediumCotton

Credit LineGift of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

DescriptionNearly square fabric art quilt in rainbow colors. Hand-dyed cotton. Center square area depicts a city or building built of twelve six-pointed stars each in different polychrome patterns; along the edge of the buildings is embroidered red text; background is rainbow polychrome triangular patchwork surrounded by varied purple border featuring organizational name and date at bottom center. Exterior border is radiating linear sunburst pattern emanating from center; organizational names and six-pointed stars decorate this area. Thin purple fabric border forms the edge of the quilt. Reverse is patchwork of large squares of fabric in various blues, grays, and purples. Quilted overall on front and back. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 127 x 125.25 x 0.5 in. (322.6 x 318.1 x 1.3 cm)
SignedEmbroidered artist signature in the viewer's bottom right corner in blue thread "Silk".
InscriptionsFront has red text at bottom center below the city of stars "5755 UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION 1995".

Front has embroidered red text running along the edges of the city of stars "We are all Jews. We have inherited a responsibility to preserve our community and faith by continuing the work of our ancestors. We want the Jewish community at home and abroad to flourish now and into the future, and to this end we have created a United Jewish Federation".

Front has fabric text around the perimeter, starting from the viewer's top left corner, clockwise:
"JEWISH FAMILY & / CHILDREN'S SERVICE";
"AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE";
"YESHIVA SCHOOLS";
"RIVERVIEW CENTER FOR / JEWISH SENIORS";
"JEWISH EDUCATION / INSTITUTE";
"JEWISH CHRONICLE";
"JEWISH RESIDENTIAL SERVICES";
"KOLLEL BAIS YITZCOK";
"UNITED JEWISH APPEAL";
"COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL / A SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL";
"RIVERVIEW TOWERS";
"HOLOCAUST CENTER / OF GREATER PITTSBURGH";
"JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER";
"HILLEL ACADEMY";
"JEWISH CEMETERY & / BURIAL ASSOCIATION";
"JEWISH ASSOCIATION ON AGING";
"HEBREW FREE LOAN / ASSOCIATION";
"JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL";
"HILLEL FOUNDATION FOR CAMPUS JEWISH LIFE";
"FORWARD-SHADY APARTMENTS";
"JEWISH WAR VETERANS"; and
"SCHOOL OF ADVANCED JEWISH STUDIES".
Historical NotesLouise Silk produced this quilt, “Mishpachah” (Family), in 1995 for the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh (now Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh). Louise Silk is a nationally recognized fiber artist and writer from Pittsburgh. Her work has been displayed in the Quilt National Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Quilts as well as in the private collections of Paine Webber and PNC Bank, among others. The colors selected represent a rainbow, G-d's sign of a covenant with the Jewish people and the earth. There are twelve central stars. Each star represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel and is constructed of colors that identified that tribe during their forty years together in the wilderness. Each is a different six pointed star, showing the diversity of the Jewish people. The central stars are incorporated into building shapes to represent us today, a mix of all Jews living today in our city environment. Surrounding the "City of Stars" is the mission statement of the United Jewish Federation. Its is in red thread, a traditional good luck omen to ward off the "evil eye". The red thread also represents a blessing for fertility. The mission statement is the thread tying the community together, surrounding, protecting, and defining the community, making it a single domain, so that it may grow and prosper as a unit. The background is a traditional "sunburst" patchwork pattern. It emanates from a central star that is hidden from the viewer, just as G-d is hidden from our daily view. The border is a rainbow of the major agencies associated with the Federation and its community. Among the agencies are several groupings representing the four directions and the four corners of the earth. Working as one part of the whole, each of us reaches into the world contributing our piece to the mission.

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