Welcome to ART ACTUALLY, an art column by me, Beth Krumholz of Oley, where each month I will share musings and discoveries vis-a-vis our local art scene.
Driving & Walking & Looking: Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs, Folk Art of the Barn
We are all adjusting to the strangeness of social isolation. What a perfect time to explore outdoor public art we are lucky to have here, in an open-air gallery; and when the mood strikes you, take a drive, a walk, and a look. What could be more enticing than exploring the local lore of charming Hex Signs? Our cars can be our “public art tour guides.” Take in the rural fresh air, and the rurally-located art, just two of the many advantages of our agrarian locale. The lovely landscape we all drive through is a place where art lives, and we can be intentional about seeing it.
Dating back to the 1700s, Hex Signs are a uniquely Pennsylvania Dutch art form. Some people believe these treasures have distinct magical powers (symbols of fertility, abundance and tranquility) and others prefer to enjoy them as decorative art. They are painted directly on barns, or on wooden portable discs, with a cherry red or white ground, giving ample canvas to colorful geometric designs. They exemplify heritage, tradition, cycles of nature, and are usually facing the road for easy viewing.
Use the list below to guide you and the links at the bottom for more historical and geographic information. As Hex Signs, both vibrant and faded, are plentiful around these parts, don’t be surprised if you discover more while driving through the sprawling fields.
Hex Signs: A Road Map
The Distelfink is the stylized bird that appears frequently in Pennsylvania Dutch art and can be viewed at Gring’s Mill Recreation Area in statue form between the garden and the parking lot at 2083 Tulpehocken Rd., Reading.
The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, 22 Luckenbill Rd. in Kutztown is housed in a farmstead featuring many hex signs.
Barn at 691 Long Lane (near intersection of Eagle Point Road), Maxatawny Township
Barn at the location of The Old Ida Bond Hotel, Albany Township
Deitsch Eck Restaurant, 87 Penn St. (Old Route 22), Lenhartsville
1810 Manor House, Oakwood Acres, New Smithville
Adam Farm, Virginvile Road, Perry Township
Dreibelbis Covered Bridge and Farm, 356 Hard Hill Rd., Hamburg
Links to virtual resources and maps for more information on Hex Signs, courtesy of the Glencairn Museum and The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center:
Beth Krumholz is a Berks County native. She is an educator, artist and poet. She has worked in the field of alternative art education for more than 20 years, from NYC to San Francisco. In her spare time, she enjoys Indian cooking, Appalachian waterfalls, tabletop herb gardening, and hanging out with her wonderful son and their mischievous cats. Photo: Jenny Schulder-Brant
