Re: String Figures

[Ruth Rogers <rsrbchs@hargray.com>]

Belinda,
Thanks so much for the info.  I have always loved doing string figures.
They fascinate me.  I used to know how to do about a dozen different
figures, but I haven't done them in years.  I do have a wonderful book
about them, but I don't know if it is still in print.  It is over 400
pages, softbound and it cost $2.50 at  the time of purchase!  Here is
the info in case someone wants to try to find it.  String Figures and
How to Make them; a study of cat's-cardle in many lands. by Caroline
Furness Jayne, Dover Publications, Inc.,NY, 1962.  The book, if it still
exists, could be added to your multicultural collection.  NOTE:  This is
a sophisticated book, young children would find it too difficult to
follow.
Belinda Holbrook wrote:
>
> Dear LM_Net Members,
>
> My family had a unique experience this summer. We attended the first
> gathering ever of the International String Figures Association. That's
> right, there's an association dedicated to the preservation and sharing
> of such games as cat's cradle, Jacob's ladder, and the teacup! I
> hesitated to tell many people before we went because not everyone
> understands why anyone would want to do such a thing. But we had a
> wonderful time! My husband, our two sons ages 12 and 19, and I all
> attended.
>
> There were eight members of the String Figures Association present. The
> person who is the head of the association has a phD in biochemistry and
> is currently doing cancer research in California. Over the years he has
> had a fascination with particular "unsolved" figures from the island of
> Nauru. He and a couple of other people have now been able to solve them.
> Another member is a professional storyteller who has collected figures
> from Alaska and Russia. Someone else traveled to the rainforests of Peru
> and collected figures from children there. He had beautiful slides of
> smiling children showing their string figures.
>
> We were also part of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. The Festival was
> celebrating its 25th anniversary. Musicians from all over the world
> performed on several stages. The family fun area had a tent with
> storytellers and musicians. Crafts were offered. We had a tent and showed
> children and adults how to do different string figures. We also showed
> each other new figures and stories that go along with the figures. One of
> the members had a stage presentation where he told a story with forty
> different figures! I would love to be able to remember that many.
>
> I have special memories of cat's cradle because my grandmother taught me
> when I was young. My friends and I spent many hours teaching each other
> tricks. Over the years I have shared string figures with my sons and
> hundreds of children. You can share facts from many different cultures
> through their string figures. I know a few stories that I'm able to tell
> but I like best just sharing figures with children. I'm sure many of you
> have the books by Camilla Gryski in your libraries.
>
> If any of you are interested in learning more about string figures I
> would highly recommend that you join the International String Figures
> Association. The membership is $25 per year. You get one scholarly
> journal per year. But best of all you get four issues of the ISFA
> magazine which diagrams many interesting string figures from around the
> world. The web address is www.isfa.org/~webweavers/ifsa.htm
> which will give you more information about joining. There is even a
> string figures listserve!
>
> David Titus is the storyteller that I mentioned earlier. He likes to go
> to schools for a week at a time to share string figures, talk about the
> cultures they came from, and teach children how to do the figures. Best
> of all, he is a former school librarian from Oklahoma! He has a special
> way with children that I saw first hand in Winnipeg. He is very patient
> and willing to share his knowledge. Dave also has a video "String Magic
> from around the world" that I would recommend for your libraries. You can
> visit his website at www.Storyteller-Wordsmith
> Dave is also marketing neat containers of strings that come in about
> eight different colors. You buy the container of 150 strings at about 20
> cents per string. Then you can sell them for 50 to 75 cents. Fun idea!
>
> Did any of you do string figures when you were young? Do you share them
> with children now?
>
> Belinda Holbrook
> Media Specialist
> Madison School
> Davenport, IA
> holbrook@revealed.net

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