Good Luck Charms
Rob with his display
Rob Curtiss of Schenectady will be displaying his collection of International Charms for Good Luck and Peace at the Corinth Free Library during the month of October. The exhibit consists of objects which inspire optimism, positive attitudes, and good luck that have been gathered from around the world.
The variety of objects in the collection shows how other cultures see things differently. Items such as bats, snakes, frogs, and dragonflies may seem strange as items of good fortune to Americans. In Asia bats are seen to bring good luck and Mr. Curtiss has in his collection a piece of fabric from a wedding gown with images of bats embroidered on it. Many cultures consider the snake to be a symbol of healing or new life because they appear reborn when they shed their skin. Frogs are symbols of wealth and good fortune and dragonflies are seen as messengers of good fortune. Mr. Curtiss said, “Luck is a matter of faith. People believe the object is lucky, for whatever reason, and so it becomes something important for them.”
The exhibit will be in the display case from October 5 until the end of the month, and can be viewed during the library’s regular hours.