1 New Hampshire Goldback

Description

One New Hampshire Goldback – Gratia (Grace)

In the New Hampshire Goldback series, Gratia, meaning Grace, makes her debut. Depicted as an Abenaki Native American woman from the Algonquin tribes with a rich regional history, she is adorned in traditional attire and stands before an Abenaki wigwam. Beside her, a river otter symbolizes resourcefulness and the ability to find joy in the present—qualities central to grace and a balanced life.

Intertwined within this design are elements reflecting Jewish and Christian traditions. Notably, the imagery evokes the Jewish Festival of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, in conjunction with the Thanksgiving celebration. Specific symbols, such as the Shofar trumpet by the wigwam’s entrance and the bounty of pumpkin, corn, beans, chestnuts, and a beehive in the tree, signify the overlap of these two significant festivals.

Gratia is portrayed collecting chestnuts, lost in thought, with the caption “Give Thanks” beneath her. This imagery emphasizes the idea that while life’s blessings require effort to attain, gratitude for them is paramount. The untouched chestnuts symbolically echo the immense effort of America’s founders in laying the groundwork for the freedoms enjoyed today.

The representation of Thanksgiving Day in this New Hampshire series pays tribute to Sarah Joseph, a New Hampshire native, who played a pivotal role in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday. In the backdrop, elements allude to ancient artifacts and the “American Stonehenge” located in New Hampshire, underscoring the area’s rich pre-colonial cultural heritage.