“My Sister’s Doll: Artists Respond to a Christmas Saga” Exhibition
Figureworks
This event has ended.
One Christmas in the mid 1960’s, my older sister, Jane, unwrapped a very special present. It was a large, beautiful doll in a special edition box – the perfect gift to steal the heart of a ten-year-old girl. A short while later, our less-privileged cousins came over, and my father, feeling charitable to the only girl in their family, made my sister give her new doll to her cousin.
My mother was furious and my sister was heartbroken. Christmas didn’t end well that year. I felt so badly for my sister that I went upstairs and made a doll from an old toilet paper roll to give her as a replacement. This began a yearly tradition in which Jane has received a unique doll from me on Christmas every year. This collection has become quite eclectic ranging from exquisite finds to those on par with that first creation!
In honor of nearly 50 years of this tradition, I enlisted 50 artists to create a doll for a special exhibition where Jane will be our “guest judge”. Her choice will take first prize in the show and become this year’s Christmas Doll.
When I asked my artists to participate, I had no idea how enthusiastically they would embrace this side-project or how cathartic it would be for so many. Most artists have made direct connections to a similar family event that seeded lasting fond or troubled memories. As they were given no restrictions, the diversity in this work is inspired, ranging from intimate paintings to abstracted, life-size sculptures. One thing became consistent though – each doll evokes a powerful, emotional response far exceeding my initial request.
Media
Schedule
from November 19, 2014 to December 21, 2014
Opening Reception on 2014-11-14 from 18:00 to 21:00