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TRACK Xangxa Tiles . . .
Discuss Xangxa Tiles on GEOSET . . .
What are Xangxa Tiles?
How do I interpret the numbers?
Where can I find Xangxa tiles?
I've completed an image! Now what?
FAQ
History of Xangxa Tiles
Xangxa Tiles are a signature item left in terracaches and geocaches. They come in sets, and
the object is to collect all the Xangxa tiles in a set. When assembled together, the tiles form
an image that can be framed and mounted. The resulting image may be a photo, drawing, painting, etc.
and the tiles may be made of a variety of materials
(e.g., Bristol board, photo paper, wood, ceramic, plastic, metal, etc.) 03/13/2005.
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Each Xangxa tile is assigned a unique code in the form # : # - # / # For example,
you might find a Xangxa tile with the code 15:8-20/25. The code has four parts,
which are Image, Edition, Tile, and Total:
| IMAGE: |
The artist creates an image. That image is assigned a
sequential number. So 15 would be the 15th image
released to the public. That image may be duplicated, and each
copy of image 15 would be called an EDITION. Let's pretend
that the photo below is Image #15.
|
| EDITION: |
When collecting Xangxa tiles for an image, you usually want
them to be from the same edition. This ensures the highest precision
of alignment and color matching. Let's pretend that Image #15 was
copied to produce four editions. They will begin with
15:1 (first edition of image 15),
15:2 (sedond edition of image 15),
15:3 (third edition of image 15), and
15:4 (fourth edition of image 15).
| |
| TILE: |
A tile is one piece of an edition, and they are sequentially numbered.
For our example, we've separated edition #4 of image #15, and showed its separate tiles, with
tile #20 moved to the far right.
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| TOTAL: |
An edition is divided into multiple tiles. The total number of resulting
tiles is noted so that a collector knows how many pieces will be needed to
complete an image.
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So for our example, 15:4-20/25 means that you have tile #20 of 25 titles. When you
have all 25 Xangxa tiles, the results will be the 4th edition of image #15. Sometimes you'll
see the name shortened. Our example tile might be referred to simply as 15:4-8 since the
total number of tiles in the edition aren't needed for identification. If we want to
collectively refer to all the tiles in that edition, then it would be shortened even further to 15:4.
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Xangxa tiles are initially placed in caches by their creator. Collectors visit the
caches to collect the pieces. Collectors also trade tiles at meetings and CITO events.
I imagine that, before too long, there will also be forum messages at Geocaching.com with
collectors seeking to trade their Xangxa tiles. Or collectors may add a list of tiles
being sought or available on their profile pages. Hopefully, they'll never be sold
(in whole or in part)! It is my hope that collectors will keep their assembled sets
and display them proudly, or scatter the tiles back into caches for other collectors.
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Congratulations! Frame or mount the assembled image, and have your photo
taken with it and email a copy to me. I will post the pictures in my
photo gallery. A link to that gallery will appear on this web page
(at the menu at the top) when I'm contacted by the first victor.
When you email me your photo, also let me know your name (or the alias
you want to associate with your photo) and the image number and edition
number. A "pure" edition is composed of all tiles from the same edition.
If your image isn't a "pure" edition, be sure to list the Xangxa tiles
that are the exceptions. For example, "This photo is of Joe Cacher with image #15, 3rd edition, except tile #4 is 2nd edition"
Sometimes there are contests, with prizes. Currently, the first two people in the Continental US to collect an image will receive an
uncut, framed version.
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- Can I collect a Xangxa Tile from a cache I've already visited?
YES!
- Can I collect a Xangxa Tile from a cache I own?
YES!
- Can I take more than one Xangxa Tile from a cache?
It depends.
I can think of a couple of scenarios where it would make sense to take more than one tile:
- You place the second tile in a different cache (like a travel bug). This might be done to get a tile closer to another collector who needs that particular tile for their collection but is too far away from the current location.
- You retrieve the second tile on behalf of another player and will be trading or giving it to that player (e.g., when you meet at a CITO event).
- Is a Xangxa Tile a type of travel bug?
No. But a Xangxa Tile may travel from cache to cache towards a destination (e.g., a collector in a distant location needs that specific tile and it is making its way to a cache close to that player).
- Can I hijack a Xangxa Tile that's moving from cache to cache on a specific errand?
Hmmm… that's a tough question. The nice thing to do is not to interfere. But if a player was hoarding a bunch of tiles, it might be necessary to hold hostage a tile they covet in order to bring them to the negotiating table to exchange it for a tile you need.
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- 03.12.2005 I've been searching since November 2004 for a signature item idea. I wanted it to be artistic, unique, desireable, and affordable.
Gold coins would be enthusiastically sought, but too expensive.
Custom art on a wooden nickle is midly artisitc but not very unique.
I experimented with rock engraving, checked prices on coin minting, and looked through signature item archives
for inspiration. Late Saturday night I was still mentally brainstorming. I hadn't placed a single cache yet, wanting to populate them
with a really good signature item as part of the FTF offerings. I had 11 cache containers stacked up and waiting. As I focused on
the "desireable" aspect, the "collectable" synonymn intrigued me. I thought of how collectors sought and traded items to form
complete sets. As I melded that concept with "art" I realized it could be affordable. And it met the "unique" criterium as I had
never seen such an item in the caching community during my research.
- 03.14.2005 I finished the first draft of the Xangxa Tiles web pages. Explaining the concept in writing helped crystalize the
concept and forced me to clarify aspects. I also selected the first images to be made into tiles and found protective sleeves
to use for placements. I assembled all the tools needed to make the first Xangxa Tiles.
- 03.15.2005 The first Xangxa Tiles were created: two images of two editions each.
- 03.25.2005 Omalyn finds the first Xangxa Tile (1:1-10/20) in GCN1J9. Ironically her first FTF and my first cache hide.
- 04.22.2005 Team BearCat is the first to use the new Xangxa Tile Tracking System.
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