The logo for this year’s cultural fair — on the cover of this section — is a tree of life expressed as a quilt — the inspiration and creation of artist Dorothy Stern. “I had made a Torah cover for [Palo Alto Congregation] Etz Chayim, and the New Bridges organization asked if I would submit a design for this year’s fair logo,” said Stern, who lives in Mountain View.
“I liked the idea of the tree of life,” she continued, “because the fair’s theme is ‘To Life.’ I wanted a design that was festive, lively and joyous, with bright colors and beloved symbols of Judaism, such as a shofar and a pomegranate to represent the new year. I liked the idea of dancing figures, so I created a bride and groom with the tallit wrapped around the bride.”
As Stern began experimenting artistically, the logo quilt became a blend of techniques — appliqué, cross-stitch and embroidery. “The ideas all took shape as I worked on it,” she said. “I planned out the quilt using colored-pencil sketches; then I created the pattern of appliqué for each section,” putting together smaller pieces of fabric sewn on top of the main quilt.
The logo quilt is about 24-by-24 inches. The center square has a green background with a curving tree — a “happy tree” according to Stern. “I wanted to give it movement and energy.”
On one side of the tree is a bride; on the other a groom. They’re floating “a little Chagall-like,” said Stern. “I was inspired by [Marc Chagall’s] brides.” The yellow panel above the tree says “To Life” in appliqué letters. The quilt also displays an orange menorah, a white Torah and a brown shofar, all edged with a blue border.
“I like the vivid hues. The fabric is dyed batik-like, so as to look as if painted in watercolors,” she said.
A mother who also works full time, Stern is a formally trained artist whose approaches have been shaped by the needs of her own life. She was initially interested in crafts — weaving, spinning and sewing. She studied art at U.C. Irvine and later studied traditional drawing and painting at the New York Academy of Art.
Working in fabric allows Stern to integrate her art with her job and her parenting. “After my son was born, I couldn’t continue drawing and painting for hours on end, so I returned to working in fabric. With fabric you can leave the project, then pick it up when you have time.
“I work in small bits; and each section is independent, portable and easy to work with. I work 15 to 20 minutes at a time, whenever I have a chance. I love the colors and textures too. When I work in fabric, it still feels as if I’m drawing and painting.”