Topic: Amish is what Amish does. Is this culture behind the times, or an advanced society that teaches sustainability, accountability, and holds the knowledge to save civilization? I would like to find out whether this mysterious, pacifist, and defiant subculture can teach us more than we think or know about the meaning of being civilized.

Within Farm's Reach

A collaboration of top food chefs and local Amish farms, culminating in a unforgettable evening.

Carriage

My first text symbol reflects on the classic carriage.

Spotlight

This symbol shows a spotlight on my subject. My idea was that the Amish's avoidance of attention increases their visibility.

City

I wanted to create tension with the buildings as imposing and almost crushing my symbol. This symbol refelcts on the amish's struggle with modern things.

Wheat

My second symbol conjures up the image of the amish's agrarian society.

Symbols4

This plays on my original design, includes the repeating symbol and highlights the use of color.

Symbols3

I took the repeating symbols a step further, while conscious of maintaining a clean feel.

symbol2

Using first symbol, I created a repeating effect.

symbols

Original Symbol with Amish figure.

Amish racing. pictures taken from websites 1 and 2.

The Amish face pressure not just from the outside world, but the temptations of modern life. They have founds ways to shun society through systematic combination of lifestyle and philosophy. How effective can this solution be in a global village created by technology?

The Amish community face many perils. New pressures they have never encountered from within their society and for the surrounding cities, could easily drive this cultural way of life to extinction. The Amish is perceived by outsiders not to embrace change and adaptation, but they must find new ways in dealing with issues or face elimination.

This website by Rev. William C. Lindholm, Chairman is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Amish society.

From Amish.net this website discusses faqs about the amish in a delightful and unpretentious question & answer format.

By Kimberly & Albrecht Powell. This is a brief but thorough history on the Amish culture.

Amish info on the net

http://amishcommunity.blogspot.com/2006/12/destroying-amish.html This is a blog format discussing concerns that the Amish community encounter from rules and regulations from laws, which directly affect their way of life.

My interest

While growing up in California, my Amish knowledge was limited to the movies and t.v. It's interesting to think that a culture can remain unchanged and isolate its self by choice. The simple life that the amish live is like a reflection of the past. Their dedication to family, spirituality, and community is both inspiring and instructive. The values and knowledge with crafts that they can share with non-amish people is priceless.

Links to info on the Amish

Wikipedia's info on the Amish

A Lancaster County website regarding the Amish

Amish Weekend

Amish youth at a gas station in Lancaster County, PA- photo taken last Sunday.