The Art of String Figures - Brossura

International String Figure Association

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0486829162 ISBN 13: 9780486829166

Casa editrice: Dover Pubns, 2018

Riassunto

Rooted in tribal customs and cultural traditions from around the world, making string figures is an ancient pastime that continues to charm people of all ages. This compilation of projects from String Figure Magazine presents easy-to-follow photographs and simple, step-by-step directions for creating more than two dozen captivating string figures that can jump, flip, and perform other tricks.
In addition to basic instructions on how to get started, this guide features brief accounts of each figure's historical background. They include "Kidnapped Baby" and "Broken Home, Mended Home" from Hawaii, "A Flock of Birds" and "Old Man Chewing" from the Solomon Islands, and the Australian "Setting Sun." From the Congo come "Leopard's Mouth," "Rubber Band" from Tibet, and from India, "Scissors." Other figures spotlight the traditions of North America's Navajo and Kwakiutl peoples and natives of Brazil, Guyana, and Argentina. A great travel pastime and on-the-go activity, making string figures is a delightful, inexpensive, and easily acquired hobby.

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Informazioni sull?autore

The International String Figure Association (ISFA) is a small, not-for-profit organization founded in 1978 by Japanese mathematician Hiroshi Noguchi and Anglican missionary Philip Noble. ISFA gathers, preserves, and distributes string figure traditions and encourages the invention of new figures.

Estratto. © Ristampato con autorizzazione. Tutti i diritti riservati.

The Art of String Figures

By International String Figure Association

Dover Publications, Inc.

Copyright © 2007 International String Figure Association
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-486-82916-6

Contents

Lightning, 1, 
Net Broken, Net Repaired, 5, 
Raise the Eyebrows, 12, 
A Flock of Birds, 16, 
Old Man Chewing, 20, 
Kidnapped Baby, 24, 
Female Turtle, Male Turtle, 27, 
Broken Home, Mended Home, 31, 
Shark, 36, 
Jumping, 41, 
Setting Sun, 44, 
Spindle, 51, 
Leopard's Mouth, 54, 
Rubber Band, 60, 
Date, 64, 
Lock and Key, 71, 
Scissors, 76, 
Flip, 79, 
Bull Snake, 82, 
Going to Get Some Bait, 87, 
Two Bear Brothers, 93, 
The Drying Lake, 96, 
Masked Dancers, 100, 
A Crab, 106, 
A Little Bird, 112, 
A Spider, 116, 

CHAPTER 1

Lightning

collected by Sir Raymond Firth from the people of the Solomon Islands

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

This action figure is known throughout the Pacific. The initial pattern, which represents heavy rain, can be partially dissolved and reformed over and over again.

(1) Place loop on 1 and 5 (Position 1).

R2 picks up L palmar string.

L2, through R2 loop from above, picks up R palmar string.

(2) You now have Opening A.

Mouth, over all strings, bites center of 5f and returns.

(3) L2, over intervening strings, picks up R mouth string and returns.

R2, over intervening strings, picks up L mouth string and returns.

Mouth releases its loop.

(4) 1 releases its loop. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

(5) 1, through lower 2 loop from above, picks up lower and upper 2f and returns under upper 2n.

(6) 3, over upper 2n, picks up lower 2n.

(7) 1 gently releases its loops to form hanging strings.

1, over hanging strings, picks up upper 2n.

(8) 4 and 5 hook down 3f. (5 enters its own loop from above.) 2 and 3 also touch the palm to complete the extension.

(9) The vertical lines that span the frame strings represent the heavy rain of a thunderstorm.

(10) To simulate the sudden appearance of lightning, quickly unfold 2, 4, and 5 while simultaneously releasing the loops from 1 and 3. This definitely requires practice and coordination!

The pattern dissolves.

Repeat steps 5–10 over and over to simulate rain followed by bursts of lightning. (Include appropriate sound effects.)

CHAPTER 2

Net Broken, Net Repaired

collected by Diamond Jenness from the Papuans of Goodenough Island

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

When making a complex string figure, Melanesians often remove loops from each hand and reset them in a different order to achieve a desired arrangement. The following figure is prime example. In this rather long series, an action figure is formed that represents two fish swimming apart. According to legend, the fish escaped from a net that had a hole in it. Next, the figure is partially dissolved and the entire weaving sequence is repeated. Remarkably, a different figure appears. The second figure represents an intact net. (No escaping fish are seen.)

(1) Begin with Opening A. (See "Lightning" on page 1.)

1, over 2 loop, picks up 5n.

(2) 2 picks up lower 1f.

(3) 1 releases its loops.

(4) 1, from below, removes upper 2 loop.

(5) 5, over 2 loop, picks up 1f.

(6) 2 picks up lower 5n.

(7) 5 releases its loops.

(8) 5, from below, removes upper 2 loop.

(9) 2345, from below, enters the 1 loop. (1 loop becomes a wrist loop.)

(10) R1 and R2 grasp L2f and L5n.

(11) L hand gently releases all its loops.

L1 enters the former L wrist loop from the opposite side of where the L hand passed through it. L2 and L5 enter their former loops from the same side through which they originally passed.

L hand returns to its original position.

R1 and R2 release the strings they are holding. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

(12) Likewise, L1 and L2 grasp R2f and R5n.

(13) R hand gently releases all its loops.

R1 enters the former R wrist loop from the opposite side of where the R hand passed through it. R2 and R5 enter their former loops from the same side through which they originally passed.

R hand returns to its original position.

L1 and L2 release the strings they are holding. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

(14) 1, over 2 loop, picks up 5n.

(15) Now do the Caroline Extension:

2 picks up lower 1f.

1 presses against the side of 2 to trap the string that runs from 1 to 2 and the string that runs from 1 to 5.

As 2 returns, 345 folds down over 5f and wrists turn so that upper 2f and 5f form frame strings.

(16) You now have four diamonds bisected by a pair of horizontal strings.

The Papuans of Goodenough Island failed to name this pleasing figure, but the design is widely known throughout the Pacific, where it is made by a variety of methods.

(17) To continue, undo the Caroline Extension. (Release the upper 2 loop and unfold 345.)

(18) Action: Gently release the 2 loop ...

... and repeat the Caroline Extension.

(19) Two "fish" swim apart as the hands are separated.

The maker intended to make a four-diamond figure representing a net. As you can see, the net is bad (it breaks in the middle) and the fish escape.

(20) To repair the net, proceed as follows:

Rotate the figure a quarter turn counterclockwise and lay the figure on a flat surface, releasing the hands entirely.

(21) Position the hands so that the former right-hand fish is between them.

1 and 5, from above, enter the triangle between the fish's body and tail. Then 5 picks up the oblique string that forms the fish's back, while 1 picks up the oblique string that forms the fish's tail. 2, over the frame lines, enters the small space between the interlocking loops found at the junction of the fish's body and tail.

Hands separate, lifting the figure off the flat surface.

(22) You now have a three-loop opening that resembles Opening A, but with a subtle difference.

(23) If you repeat the entire weaving sequence (steps 1–18), a four-diamond figure will result. The net is repaired!

CHAPTER 3

Raise the Eyebrows

collected by Sir Raymond Firth from the people of the Solomon Islands

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

In this amusing figure, which represents a person raising his or her eyebrows, the amount of tension applied to the little finger loops is altered. As a result, the strings shift and a second design appears. Loop length plays a critical role here. If the loop is too short or too long, the strings will not shift properly.

(1) Begin with Opening A. (See "Lightning" on page 1.)

2, over 5 loop, catches 5f, 5n, and 2f on its tip and hooks these three strings toward you.

The 2 loop slips over the first joint and onto the tip of 2.

(2) Raise hooked 2 so that its tip is above 1f.

Enter the 1 loop from above. With the tip of 2 catch 1f ...

... and drag it away from you, rotating 2 away and up.

(3) 1 releases its loop.

(4) 1, under both 2 loops, enters 5 loop from below.

1, on the far side of both 2 loops, presses its tip against the tip of 2.

1 and 2 rotate away from you, passing down through the 5 loop.

1 and 2 rotate toward you and up. As 2 returns to the upright position, 1 separates from 2.

(5) 2 now has a double upper loop and a single lower loop that it shares with 5. 1, from below, enters the double upper 2 loop ...

... and returns with double upper 2n while 5 releases its loop. Separate 1 from 2 as far as possible to achieve a wide extension.

(6) 5, from below, enters the 2 loops and returns with double lower 2f strings.

(7) 2 releases all of its loops.

(8) Now do the Caroline Extension, as illustrated in "Net Broken, Net Repaired." 2 picks up lower 1f while 1 presses against the side of 2. 345 folds down over 5f, and wrists turn so that 2f and double 5f form frame strings.

(9) The resulting design represents a squinting face. (Eyes are hidden.)

(10) Action: To "raise the eyebrows" and reveal the eyes (a pair of small diamonds), unfold 345 and extend widely with palms facing away. This lengthens the 5 loops.

Upon lengthening the 5 loops, the string labeled with an asterisk in the above photo will curl around the upper frame string and become a transverse horizontal string.

Repeat the Caroline Extension as often as desired to make the face squint and unfold.

CHAPTER 4

A Flock of Birds

collected by Sir Raymond Firth from the people of the Solomon Islands

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

In Fiji, this pattern is called "Full Morning" because the design springs into view just like the rising sun. In the Solomon Islands, the figure represents birds that suddenly appear out of nowhere and pause to feed. When startled, the birds scatter in all directions without leaving a trace. The figure dissolves.

(1) Begin with Opening A. (See "Lightning" on page 1.)

1, under 2 loop, enters 5 loop from below.

1 passes over 5f and down ...

(2) ... then returns to an upright position, completing a full rotation away from the body. An upper 1 loop is created from 5f in the process.

(3) 5 releases its loop.

(4) 5, under 2 loop, hooks down double 1f.

(5) 1 picks up 2n.

(6) Navajo 1 loops. (Lift the double lower loop over the single upper loop and release it on the far side of 1.)

(7) The tip of 1 presses against the tip of 2.

2 transfers its loop to 1.

(8) 2 picks up oblique strings that resemble double 1f strings.

(9) Action: 1 releases its loops sharply while 2 and 5 separate.

(10) Miraculously, a net-like figure springs into view. Some arranging may be required.

The diamonds represent small birds that spotted food and decided to land suddenly.

(11) As you know, a flock of birds is easily startled.

Action: 1 picks up the oblique string that runs from the double palmar string to 2f ...

... and returns with it.

Simultaneously, 2 and 5 release their double loops. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

In the blink of an eye the startled birds fly away, leaving nothing more than a simple loop on 1.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Art of String Figures by International String Figure Association. Copyright © 2007 International String Figure Association. Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Dover Pubns
• Data di pubblicazione: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0486829162
• ISBN 13: 9780486829166
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Lingua: Inglese
• Numero di pagine: 124
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile