Kaleidoscopic XVIII: Chai

Paula Nadelstern

37 x 37 inches

1998

ARTIST STATEMENT

The crucial Hebrew word “Chai” refers to life. Used as a symbol, the word expresses the hope and prayer for life, health and prosperity. In Hebrew, each letter represents a number (as if A equals 1 and B equals 2). The word “chai” is spelled chet (the 8th letter) plus yud (the 10th letter), making the numerical equivalent of “chai” eighteen. Consequently, the number 18 is also a symbol of life. This quilt is the eighteenth in my kaleidoscopic quilt series.

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Cottons, silk

Machine pieced, hand quilted