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The most prolific and outspoken artist of a modern school of "hexologists" is Hunter Yoder. Born and raised in Berks County, Hunter was inspired by local artistic traditions, and even painted a barn on his father's property near Virginville. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hunter embraces the title of "Hexologist," and has sought to reinvent the mythology of the modern hex sign by incorporating aspects of his interest in ancient pre-Christian ritual culture. Hunter's work combines plant geometry, runic inscriptions, and several designs which are an homage to the work of Lee Gandee. Like Gandee, Hunter experiments with the use of art for shamanic and magical purposes, believing that his work is an extension of his spiritual path. Identifying himself religiously as a Heathen, Hunter blends traditional motifs with arcane occult emblems in the interest of reviving ancient Germanic religion. While for many people in Pennsylvania, this particular approach remains highly controversial, especially because of the historical abuse of such interest in Germanic culture during the second World War, Hunter aims to break down such taboos in an effort to take his art in an entirely different direction, blending old and new mythology. Despite these obstacles in belief, tradition, and culture, it is undeniable that Hunter's work is visually stunning, and part of the spectrum of modern applications of continued interest in Pennsylvania Dutch culture in the United States. "Hex Signs, Myth and Meaning in Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Stars," by Patrick Donmoyer, a publication of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University, 2013People at the Folk Fest - No. 8: Hunter Yoder. Hunter is a Pennsylvanian-German folk artist and as such always has a stand at the Folk Festival - usually right next to that of his wife Rachel Yoder Art. His art, however, differs significantly from hers. He is particularly interested in the Indo-European heritage of symbolic patterns - where do they come from, what do they mean, and what purpose was pursued with their use. White and black magic play a role here. His art makes the combination of the typical Pennsylvania German barn star symbols with Germanic runes - with results that sometimes affect us Germans in a peculiar way, because it confronts us with our past. In Pennsylvania, however, the term “Heiden Hexology" he sometimes uses is neutral and devoid of any political connotation. (Language: English) Dr Michael Werner, #hiwwewiedriwwe 2021

Hex Signs as Sacred Space, by Hunter M. Yoder, 2023

$25.00Price
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