The Spirit of Salem

Not Every Witch Lives in Salem, #3-, #4-, #6-, and #8-cut wool. Designed and hooked by Ellen Banker, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2019.

Peace, from the Hebrew word, Shalom, was the foundation for this town’s name. But Salem in colonial Massachusetts failed to offer any peace in the years 1692 and 1693, when the hysteria over witches and demons swept over the tiny enclave in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The resulting chaos and trials culminated in the execution of 19 innocent people. And the story of Salem has haunted America’s history and imagination for centuries.

Today, much of Salem’s cultural identity reflects its role as the location of the infamous Salem witch trials. The trials were featured in Arthur Miller’s 1953 dramatized and partially fictionalized classic play, The Crucible. And witch logos adorn Salem’s police cars, athletic teams, and parks. So why not a witch on a rug?

But not every witch lives in Salem. So I designed a rug that all rug hookers can enjoy hooking, complete with witch, blood moon, and a “grunge” typeface called Nightmare 5 (how appropriate!).