Each year Pantone, the paint and color people, choose a color in December for the year ahead. They imbue these colors with ideas and ideals for the new year. I don't always agree with the choices but along with many in the quilting community, I like to ruminate on them a bit. This year I thought a long time about the Pantone's Color of the Year 2018, Ultra Violet.
Here's what they have to say about it:
"A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.
Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.
Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance. Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.
Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The color is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world. The use of purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspire connection."
After reading this a few times, I did a fabric pull. Sometimes this helps me think about the color, feel the color. You can see by all the blond cat hair that Irving felt the color, too.
The more I thought about Ultra Violet the more I thought it is a great color for 2018. The idea of inner peace, self reflection, and inner wellness are commonly depicted by deep purples, and this would be a good year for everyone to open up that deep purple space within and spread some peace love and understanding.
Rich violets and purples have long been associated with royalty, and I like the idea that this can cross over to people in the creative world, people of power, people of influence. Ideally in 2018, Ultra Violet will encourage those people to step forward, step up, and lead by well meaning example. I hope 2018 will be a time for those influential and powerful people to make change for the better and help heal our country and our world. But the other side of Ultra Violet may mean that those in power continue to change things for the worse, and use their influence to perpetuate hate, violence and conflict. All images that a deep purple can also evoke.
So, while I'm hopeful that Ultra Violet will shine a reflective, calming light on the world this year, I also see this Pantone Color of the Year having a dark side. Let's call it Ultra Violent. Power, persuasion, dark vibes, and nightmares, Ultra Violent is also the color of spooky corners, unknown depths, a black eye, your last breath.
I'm rooting for goodness to emerge this year, I'm just not holding my breath. I feel that this year, Pantone has captured the right color for 2018, I'm just not sure that's a good thing.
What do you think of Ultra Viole(n)t? How does it make you feel for the year ahead?
