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Huldah
22" x 22"
Huldah was created for theWomen of Biblical Propoportions tour which was masterfully organized and curated by Ruth Harris and Chantelle Cory. Every detail was thoughtfully determined, even to the size of the shipping boxes, before 47 artists were invited to participate. Each artist selected a female biblical character to portray in quilt form, using her unique style, original design, and individual techniques.
Touring since January 2004 the Women of Biblical Proportion tour has been so successful a Men of Biblical Proportions selection has also started touring as of October 2005. Together they have generated a donatation of more than $4000.00 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Both tours will conclude December of 2007
Creating this piece has been an adventure. Not much is written about biblical women in general. Tracking down details was a challenge. What type of clothing was worn? Did a Jewish woman 600 years before Christ, wear head coverings when inside a building? Would they have used candles or lamps? What would the scroll have looked like? What language would it have been written in, and does it read right to left, or left to right?
In the end, many answers were available - others were not. I draped my 14-year-old son in fabric and posed him at the kitchen table. Paper towel rolls filled in for the scrolls so I could experiment with what might have been a comfortable position for her hands and the placement of the lamp. The background was quilted to mimic a stone wall.
I had originally planned on using that gorgeous hand woven piece for her shawl, but in the end it proved too distracting. Huldah's headpiece was created out of 3D draped fabric. The green silk was twisted and sewn down, allowing for realistic rolls of fabric. The hair crossing her face is only sewn at the top and bottom of the strands, allowing them to float free.
In part this was an experiment to see how far I could push what might be considered delicate construction choices. It will be interesting to see how the quilt returns to me after years of travel. I was able to see the exhibit last year, and everything looked great.
Four people assisted me with the text. Finally a friend who took the text to her Rabbi rescued me. It's amazing how Hebrew grammar and spelling have changed over the last 2600 years.
A portion of the Artist Statement reads as follows:
Biblical Scholars offer varying opinions about Huldah. She may have been a scholar, librarian, teacher, or Prophetess. What does appear clear is that when the 18-year-old king Josiah, started repairs on the temple in about 622 BC, a segment of scroll was discovered which foretold of God's anger that the people of Judah had forsaken him.
Unhappy with this interpretation, King Josiah sent his staff to Huldah as she had access to the complete and unaltered documents. She confirmed the scrolls as the law of God and instructed the men to tell Josiah that God's mercy was still attainable.
The Scroll that Huldah translated would have outlined God's anger towards the people of Judah. I chose instead to jump ahead a few verses and focus instead on Huldah's message to King Josiah. The Hebrew text on the scroll can be translated to read:
And Huldah said to them, 'Tell Josiah, king of Judah, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord I truly have heard you."
The king used her information to take a stand in his nation and make changes so they would be following the laws of God.
II Kings 22:14
II Chronicles 34:22