earthloczspirit

Alter Egos Class at Cultured Expressions Studio

2011-05-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lisa Sheppard Stewart of Cultured Expressions for hosting the Alter Egos Doll Class! I had a blast and I hope my students did too. Thank you Joan N, Joan "Always", Josie, Sondra, Tanya MontQ, Diane, Jackie and Nathasha for making it such an enjoyable experience! And don't forget to email me photos of your finished dolls!

Opening Night - Embracing the Orishas at Yema Gallery

2011-05-01T14:17:00.001-07:00

From the top: Artist/Drummer Geraldine Gaines; Jody Leight; Shirley Panton-Benjamin; Rahmon Olugunna (artist not shown); Toni Thomas (artist/curator) with artist/drummer Mansa Mussa; Lynn Presley; Bisa Washington (artist not shown); Janice Anderson; Adrienne Wheeler; Toni Thomas with son, Justin; Yemaja Altar (Janice Anderson); Elegua/Esh Elegbara (Janice Anderson)

Embracing the Orisha at Yema Gallery, 540B Freeman Street, Orange, New Jersey. Opening April 29 6-9pm through May 28. Curated by Toni Thomas

2011-04-11T12:30:00.001-07:00

Embracing the Orisha

Elegua (Esu/Elegba)
Fiber Art Dolls& Mixed Media Installation
20” (cloth, paperclay, wire armature, mixed media)

At a crossroads in the history of the gods, when each wished to find out who, under God, was supreme, all made their way to heaven, each bearing rich sacrificial offerings. All but Esu-Elegba, who wisely honored the deity of divination beforehand and had been told what to bring with him to heaven – a single crimson parrot feather positioned upright upon his forehead to signify that he was not to carry burdens on his head. Responding to he fiery flashing parrot feather, the very seal of supernatural force and ashe, God granted Esu the force to make all things happen and multiply. Outward signs of submission and material bounty were no match for wisdom and humility. Once granted his powers of dominion, Esu instead of arrogantly subordinating everyone to himself, did the “cool” thing – he agve a vast feast to share his newfound prestige and to honor God for the priceless treasure of ashe.

He is the guardian of the crossroads and messenger of the gods, the ultimate master of potentiality. Favorable, he modifies the worst of fates; hostile, he darkens the most brilliant of happenings.

- from Flash of the Spirit: African & Afro-American Art & Philosphy by Robert Farris Thompson

Yemaya (Yemoja)
Fiber Art Dolls& Mixed Media Installation
20” (cloth, paperclay, wire armature, mixed media)

Yemaya-Olukun is the Mother of the Sea, the Great Water, the Womb of Creation. She is the Mother of Dreams, the Mother of Secrets. She is natural wealth, the mother of pearl and Veiled Isis. She is the mermaid, the full moon; and intelligence beyond human comprehension. She is envisioned as a large and beautiful woman, radiant and dak; nurturing and devouring; crystal clear and mysteriously deep. Yemaya rules the house, nurtures the child in the waters of the womb; and has jurisdiction over the affairs of women. Gaze upon the waters of Yemaya for your own self’s sake. Perform rituals on the ocean at sunrise and midnight for your healing. Watch Her shimmering in the light of the full moon and be renewed. There is no mountain of trouble that Yemaya cannot wear down; no sickness of heart that She cannot wash clean; no desert of despair that She cannot flood with hope.

- from Jambalaya,, the Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisah Teish

Embracing the Orishas, Yema Gallery, 540B Freeman Street, Orange, New Jersey. Opening April 29, 2011 6-9pm through May 28, 2011. Curated by Toni Thomas.

This exhibit is a continuation of Yema Gallery's recognition of the 2011 UN Resolution 64/169 designating this year as the year for people of African descent by paying tribute to the culture and traditions of the African people. This exhibit will be presented along with an exhibit of the work of Nigerian artist Rahmon Olugunna. Also featured are Adrienne Wheeler, Bisa Washington, Janice Anderson, Jody Leight, Joya Thompson, Shirley Parker Bejamin, Lynn Presley and Geraldine Gaines. The artists were asked to present work that reflects their interest in a deity (orishas) associated with Yoruban spirtual practice.

Alter Egos - Creating the Doll

2011-03-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

I will be teaching my first dollmaking class at Lisa Shepard Stewart's Cultured Expressions Studio on April 30, 2011. For those of you who do not know Lisa, she is a quilter, crafter, author, designer, instructor extraodinaire, who sells and teaches us to use and incorporate African textiles in our art/clothing projects. I credit Lisa with being the instructor who taught the first quilting class I ever took several years ago, which got me hooked on crafting with dollmaking soon to follow. The rest is history.

The class, Alter Egos, is a workshop about telling our stories and expressing ourselves through the magic of dollmaking. Together we wil explore such issues as body image, self-esteem and ancestor appreciation, in a safe, fun and supportive environment - a judgment-free zone - while learning dollmaking skills, unleashing creativity and developing a narrative (whew!) Come, silence your inner critic, and give yourself permission to play!

I will be teaching my technique for creating a wire-armatured soft-sculpted doll to decorate and embellish at will.

Skill level: Beginner and up (if you can sew on a button, you can do this!)

For more information go to www.culturedexpressions.com events calendar.

Susanna/We Are a Dancing People

2011-01-31T09:19:00.000-08:00

When Sue Wears Red

When Susanna Jones wears red
Her face is like an ancient cameo
Turned brown by the ages.
Come with a blast of trumpets, Jesus!

When Susanna Jones wears red
A queen from some time-dead Egyptian night
Walks once again.
Blow trumpets, Jesus!

And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red
Burns in my heart a love-fire sharp like pain.
Sweet silver trumpets, Jesus!
- Langston Hughes

Sometimes I work better on a deadline, even though I really hate deadlines.

Sandra West, a writer who I have been acquainted with for decades, formerly of the Newark Writer's Collective in the '80s, contacted me just before vacation time in December. She told me she is curating the Black History Month Exhibit at the Newark Public Library. She wanted to put some of my dancing dolls in the exhibit. I was delighted at the request -- problem is, I didn't have any dancing dolls.

So, I committed to making a pair for the exhibit, even though I was on my way out of the country on vacation.

Well, true to form, the male doll did not cooperate/come together as I had envisioned. (In fairness, its not really all the doll's fault. I have always found male dolls to be more difficult. They take a lot of needle sculpting in order to make them more real, because of the angles needed to form the musculature - and I never should have committed to making one on short notice). However, the woman doll came out just fine.

When Sandra saw her, she asked what is her name. I hadn't thought of a name and the doll didn't speak her name to me, so I told Sandra she could have the honors. Sandra named her Susanna, after the Langston Hughes poem, When Sue Wears Red.

Here is an exerpt from the Library press release for We Are A Dancing People:

The Limbo, Cakewalk, Lindy Hop, the Shimmy –some of the most famous and enduring dance steps in America – can trace their roots to tribal rites such as Sowu, the Ghanese “dance of life’, and the Focadaba initiation dance from Guinea. These dance styles were carried over in slave ships, became fused with European influence in the South, and flowered into new and unexpected variations. That progression is explored in this year’s Black History Month salute “We Are a Dancing People: The History of Black Dance from Then Until Now” at the Newark Museum, 5 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey.

Curated by Sandra L. West, who manages the Library’s James Brown African-American Room, the exhibit is paired with a photographic display, The Art of Dance, by photographer/collagist Mansa K. Mussa.

In addition to dance inspired photographs by Mansa Mussa, the exhibition features:

- A quilt entitled Shaking Senoras by artist Glendora Simonson;
- A dancing fabric doll created by Janice Anderson;
- One poem by an African American poet on the theme of dance installed in each of the twelve display cases in the gallery;
- A nineteen page essay We Are A Dancing People installed in the display cases written by curator Sandra L. West, previously published in the online literary journal Chickenbones: a Journal of Artistic and Literary African American Themes.

Both shows run from January 26 through March 15, 2011, with opening night reception February 10, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. This celebration features music by the Sherry Winston Trio, an African dance performance by the 7th Principle Dance & Drum Ensemble, a talk about the art of dance by dancer photographer Mussa, and a reading by East Orange author/publisher Cheryl Willis Hudson from her new book, “My Friend Maya Loves to Dance.”

For more information or to arrange a tour, please contact Ms. West at (973) 733-5411.

Clearing the Head, Zihua Vacation, and Frida Kahlo as Inspiration

2011-01-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

This is my last day of vacation. Tomorrow, back to the day job. We spent Christmas with my cousin at their home in Zihuatenajo. First things first - Thanks to Michielle and Frank for showing us an amazing time. Michielle and Frank were wonderful hosts. I rested, created, walked, swam and got to spend time getting to know Mi Prima. Frank and Michielle are both accomplished painters and their home is a little oasis of creative inspiration. Michielle gave LaShay painting lessons. L now makes really good palm trees.

I made a Frida Kahlo doll as a gift for Michielle and Frank. They are both Frida-files as am I, and she made a perfect addition to their home. Everywhere you look in Mexico, you see images of Frida. She is a national and international treasure. I think often of the beauty she created while enduring such unimaginable physical and psychic pain.

Being away at Christmas was a little different, but I think it was good for me and my little one, who loves to travel and didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she wants to know are we going back next year or where else are we going. Kids are amazingly adaptable.

Life is much slower and simpler in Zihuatanejo. Roosters crow in the morning and the Bread Man delivers fresh rolls in time for breakfast. I got to just sit and think about things. The need to incorporate quiet creative time everyday. How I had slacked off on blogging, thinking I don't have anything so exciting to say. Maybe its not all about excitement. Maybe its about just being, and giving myself permission to relax and play. I used to know that.

So this year, my one resolution, is just to take things easy, not so serious, and make sure to put art/creativity into every aspect of life .. not just when I have time. Art making is a spiritual, meditative pursuit. I had almost forgotten.

I'm setting a goal of writing daily, and posting weekly, even if nothing "exciting" is going on. Let's see how that goes.

Catfish Friday Presents: Mujer/Woman

2010-09-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

Catfish Friday Women's Artist Collective Exhibit for Newark Open Doors, September 24, 2010. 1. Janice Anderson (me!); 2. Lynn Presley; 3.Nancy Michielle Martinez (mi prima!); 4. Adrienne Wheeler, Gladys Grauer, Bisa Washington. 5. Sadee Brathwaite; 6. Shonda Nicholas; 7. Adrienne Wheeler; 8. Rear: Malcolm King (poet); Toni Thomas; Janice Anderson; Elaine Lee (poet); Aura Highsmith; Front - Shonda Nicholas (photographer/poet); Lynn Presley; Gladys Grauer; Aura Highsmith; Bisa Washington; Sadee Brathwaite. Photos by ToKz Adesanya. Not shown: Jody Lee, Ujima Majeed, Krystle Lemonias, Terry Body, Kathleen Heron, Lorena La Grassa.

My first experiences as a "co-curator". Mujer/Woman is an art exhibition about anything that represents women, from what a woman does, to the way she looks, how she smells, acts, dances, walks and talks. Whoever she is, wherever she is, all aspects of women are explored. The artists in this exhibition represent all realms of what a woman represents from fantasy to realistic; from conceptual to iconic whatever can be imagined or conceived about women were be explored in this exhibition. Special thanks to Catfish Friday founder/curator Toni Thomas, and to featured artists Sadee Brathwaite, Adrienne Wheeler and Kathleen Heron for their artist vision and assistance hanging the show.

Catfish Friday, Women’s Art Collective is a growing community of women artists in visual and literary arts. The collective began in 2007 in Newark, NJ and has grown to include women across the Northeast and the Caribbean. Catfish Friday strives to create community among women artists in a supportive, non-competitive environment providing critique for works-in-progress and career building workshops and opportunities. For more information visit our website: www.catfishfriday.org, or write info@catfishfriday.org. Catfish Friday is a program of ARTSETC, www.artsetcnow.org.

Day with Dolls 2010

2010-08-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

Mother & Child

2010-05-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

22" cloth, paperclay.

Mama Haiti

2010-02-28T15:08:00.001-08:00

Mama Haiti 24" cloth, paperclay, acrylic, wire armature.

Mama Haiti will be featured, along with The Quiltmaker & Her Granddaughter, at Essex County College Gallery, Newark, New Jersey during the month of March (opening reception March 4, 5-8pm), in the exhibit entitled Sanctuary for the Beloved.

2009-2010

2010-02-24T04:34:00.000-08:00

The Quiltmaker and her Granddaughter
Fiber Art Dolls& Mixed Media Installation
15” x 15” x 19” (cloth, paperclay, wire armature, wood, raffia)

My Grandmother, Mrs. Gertrude James, made her transition from this world in 1989 at the age of 92. I was privileged to have her presence at my birth, and to be by her side in her last moments on this earth. In between, she gave many gifts. Among them: how to help things grow, how to cook, a love of old time gospel hymns, common sense (although not always evident in my behavior) and how to make art from scraps of cloth.

Yemaja
24" Cloth/handdyed; paperclay; wire armature; mixed media

Don't Explain/Blues People Series
20" cloth/handdyed; paperclay

Blues Spirit/Blues People Series
18" Cloth/Paperclay

Blues Meditation/Blues People Series
12" Cloth; Paperclay

Naked. 24" cloth, paperclay, wire armature.

October Updates

2009-10-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

It is so exciting when what you have been working for begins to come to fruition.

Mother & Child were shown at the Spirit of Charity exhibit (September - October) at Maloney Art Gallery, College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ, commemorating 150th anniversary of founding of the Sister's of Charity order and the College's 110th. The highlight for me, beyond having my art selected, was meeting one of my personal Sheroes, Sister Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking, and the nun played by Susan Sarandon in the film.

Also in September - October, Lady Bird of Paradise Sings the Blues was featured at Eureka Gallery, Hoboken, NJ for the exhibit I Love My Life,

Man & Woman, and Meditation doll were featured in September at Celebration of Lawyers in the Arts, benefiting Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, at NJPAC, Newark, NJ.

Coming soon - Catfish Friday Womens Art Collective and Newark Arts Council present Search for the Real during Newark Open Doors October 23-25, opening reception October 24 7-10 pm 972 Broad Street, Newark, NJ; Essex Exposed 6, curated by Patterson Sims at October 25 through November 22, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ.

IYANIFA'

2009-07-06T11:18:00.001-07:00

IyanIfa - 30" cloth over wire armature, paperclay, acrylic.

You belong to the Universe and

the Universe belongs to You

Heaven is home

Earth is your school

The stage is crowded

You stand on the broad shoulders

of your Ancestors

The Orisa live within you

They must be honored

Sacrifice brings success

Contentment is your birthright

CATFISH FRIDAY PRESENTS: NAKED

2009-06-02T04:52:00.001-07:00

Untitled/Nudes 22", cloth, paperclay, acrylic; spirit dolls, 16-22", cloth, polymer clay, acrylic.

Catfish Friday Women's Art Collective Presents: NAKED, an Exhibit, at the Ice Gallery at the Coffee Cave, 45 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey, Sunday June 7, 3-6p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Catfish Friday, Women’s Art Collective presents: Naked
Dates: June 1 – 28, 2009
Location: The Ice Gallery at the Coffee Cave, 45 Halsey St. Newark, NJ 07102
Artists Reception: Sunday June 7, from 3 – 6 PM

Naked is the title of this year’s 2nd invitational art exhibition featuring the work of women artists who participate in Catfish Friday women’s art collective. The topic of the exhibition Naked, curated by artist Toni Thomas, explores the concept of nakedness. What images conjure up when one hears the word naked? Are artists limited to portraying revealing nudes or will they reveal naked emotions on contemporary issues? Artists participating in this exhibition render their take on nakedness within the framework of their personal style, ideology and medium. The means by which they address the topic reaches across many subjects from nude renditions to portrayals of naked clichés, with adaptations of spiritual, emotional, conceptual, ideological and political perspectives. The work to be viewed takes one on a visual journey with many variations on the theme while inviting the viewer to grapple with their own perceptions of a naked reality that goes beyond the tangible physique.
Featured in the exhibition is the work of Janice Anderson, Tinnetta Bell, Sadee Brathwaite,
Maggie Brown, Kathleen Heron, Diana Jensen, Shonda Nicholas, Shirley Parker-Benjamin, Lynn Presley, Judth Salmon, Joya Thompson and Toni Thomas. The artists reception on Sunday, June 7th will include the poetic work of Mary Baldwin, Elaine Lee, Esther Morales and Lebrashawn Turman-Chase.

Catfish Friday, Women’s Art Collective is a growing community of women artists in the Newark, New Jersey area and surrounding communities. Catfish Friday strives to create community among women artists in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Providing critique and support for works-in-progress, Catfish Friday meetings are held on the second Saturday of every month from September through June. Participation is open to any female artist working in visual or literary art at any stage of development. For more information call 973-699-3269 or visit website: www.catfishfriday.org.

Mother's Day

2009-05-12T10:50:00.001-07:00

original art card, photo and frame, by LaShay

original grafitti art card (recognize the red glasses? - hmmm); 6" bike - Jerry Gant

It's a great thing to be recognized. Look what I got from the person who made me a mother! I am so proud of this little creative spirit. Having her in my life was/is the best and smartest thing i've ever done and will do.

And from the artist known as Jerry Gant - a token of a appreciation for the exchange and artistic and life journey we are all on. Says JG: the Journey, whether by car, by bicycle, wheelchair, escorted out in handcuffs, carried away on a stretcher, or walking on our own two feet, needs to be recognized and honored. Thanks J.

Blessed be all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers, Aunties, Birthmothers, Fostermothers, Nurturers, Caretakers, Wisewomen, etc., (because all women are Mothers) we honor and salute you.

Back to My Roots

2009-03-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

Always amazing how easy it is to get thrown off my game. A serendipitous encounter, a turn right instead of left, focus is lost, and off I go again, following paths meant for the footsteps of another.

Earth-school is difficult, challenging, as it is meant to be. The lessons we fail to learn once, come back again in another package, over and over again, until we get it. And when we think we got it, the Universe sends it again and asks, “Are you sure?” Need to get centered; meditate, pray, zhikr, shut up, be still, listen, remember what I’m really here for.

Bless the past and those who brought the gift/lesson, even (especially) the hard lesson; love and honor them; release; and send them on their way.

Catfish Friday is planning a show in June. This piece has something to do with a tree, roots, wings. Its been in my head since last summer, and is gradually taking shape. There is evolution here. I don’t know who she is yet…

Anyone Can Fly! -- Faith Ringgold Event 3-8-09

2009-03-08T17:33:00.001-07:00

LaShay and I had the privilege of attending this event, and meeting the great fiber artist and author, Faith Ringgold, and a reading and book signing at ABC Carpet & Home, New York, NY. Ms. Faith has been one of my favorite artist for 30 years and an inspiration to me. Tar Beach and Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky have been among our favorite bedtime stories since LaShay was a baby.

Faith Ringgold was born and raised in Harlem, USA, and received an M.A. from City College of New York in 1959. Her work is in the permanent collection of many museums including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is the author and illustrator of 17 children's books, including Tar Beach, which was a Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration.

Thank you, Ms. Faith.

Indigo is Singing Off Key, Dancing Out Loud, Laughing, Shaking and Quickstepping Across the Clouds of Possibilities

2009-02-25T12:14:00.001-08:00

Indigo is celebrating the spring equinox.

Rejection, Reaction and Courage

2009-02-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had lunch with this artist, a brother, who is a genius and very funny, raw. I kinda hate the phrase “streetsmart”– its overworked and most often used to imply a different, maybe lesser kind of intelligence – when in point of fact, the street is a university of its own. And this particular brother is way smarter than me on every level I can discern, which is at once intimidating and intriguing at the same time, but that is another matter entirely.

So anyway, we talked about a lot of things, including rejection and reaction to it, as an artist and a human being. How you have to have courage to put yourself out there, and even more to pick yourself up off the floor. I thought about my experience with the Hoffman Challenge last year, and it was cathartic to talk it through with somebody who gets it. I never wrote about this, or even talked about it much to any but a few people. I had created and submitted the piece “Lady Bird of Paradise Sings the Blues”, which I am re-posting here for reference. The jury gave me really good marks and feedback and promptly sent the doll back as unfit to travel because she was “too racy”. (She has been re-christened "Tracy" for "Too Racy" by the brother.)

So, after I picked myself up off the floor, I had to ask myself why it was important to me for the Hoffman people to like my work in the first place? I make things that reflect my reality – women that look like me and my family and my sisterfriends, things I see in life, on the street, in stories and legends that don’t necessarily reflect majority idea of beauty and femininity, but this is my aesthetic. Black women/women of color, are always too much of something, and/or not enough of something else, i.e., too black or not black enough, too smart for our own good or too stupid, too sassy, evil, sexy, fat, fill in the blank. Is “racy” a code for, you need not apply? Should I care? Should I try again this year with a toned down watered down prettyasaprincessonapea doll? Should I just make a white girl (I can do those too) and see what happens?

I guess the courage part comes in where you have to weigh the value and benefit of having a piece tour in a national/international show, and the recognition from that, versus your own artistic integrity. How far do you bend before you break? What do you say to your spirit?

So as my brother-artist spoke to me about the story, the narrative, of our art, and how this is what makes it ours - how we claim ownership of it - I took another look at Tracy and remembered what she said to me as I was making her. It takes a long time for me to bring up a face in paperclay and somewhere in the process the doll tells her own story. She spoke clearly and reminded me of a girl I knew in intermediate school. At twelve, Gail was a dark, brooding, little soul with the face of a doll and a body straight outta Cirque du Soleil. She was sassy and swinging. All the little boys followed her like love struck puppies. All the little girls hated her. Gail knew things we didn't know and did things we didn't do. She looked at us with cold disdain. She didn't need us little pootbutts for friends. She lived with her grandmother. We never knew where her parents were. She came to school sometimes with bruises and scars on her face and body. She started high school with us but disappeared without a trace by the time we were all fourteen. I never knew if she moved away or ran away. I've never seen her since, until she reemerged in the face/figure of Tracy Gail/Lady Bird of Paradise Sings the Blues.

These are the things I know and the stories I tell. I really don't know very much about cute and dainty. Innocence mangled, hope challenged, wreckage, redemption. Singing out loud off key. These are the things I know something about. My dolls are too racy to travel...

Catching up

2009-01-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Bisa Washington's Arlington Arts Gallery

Above left: Bisa with two of my spirit dolls and her mixed media creations; right photo: dolls on exhibit

above left: Healing dolls by me; right, various dolls on display at Holiday Party, Jersey City

Holiday Doll Party, Jersey City.

It’s a new year and quite a while since my last post. What’s happening in the world and what have I been up to?

Let’s see… many life changes and new energy. Gains and losses. People have entered and exited. I send blessings and wish them well.

Miriam Makeba – Mama Afrika, who dared to lift her voice in the face of apartheid and endured exile in its name; Odetta – the voice of the Civil Rights Movement; Eartha Kitt – who dared to speak the truth to power and was “blacklisted” for it. We mark the contributions of these pioneer women artists, and bless them on their journey. Note to file: create something to commemorate them in 2009.

November 2008: A new president – the economy is crumbling and Barack Obama promises change. Andrew Young noted that, just like with the cities, black people seem to get the big job when nobody else wants it. But I’m so proud just the same, both of Mr. Obama, Mrs. Obama (accomplished professional woman in her own right), and those two beautiful little girls who will have the unprecedented experience of being the first Black first daughters. As for me, having been born on the heels of Jim Crow and the cusp of the Civil Rights Movement, its hard to imagine what this will mean in the life of my child and her peers, to live in a world where such is possible. Most of all, I feel like my country finally grew up and owned up.

LaShay and I went to the Tina Turner concert Thanksgiving night. – you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced Tina Turner through the eyes of an 8 year old. Ironic that Tina had the same effect on me when I was 8. At 69 she looks and sounds better than ever. More than that, Tina represents the ability of woman to free ourselves and rise from the ashes. I’m hoping to look half that good by the time I’m 69. I still have (a little) time to get there.

Saturday after Thanksgiving: Mixed media artist Bisa Washington invited me to participate in her annual holiday doll exhibit at her Arlington Arts Gallery in Newark. Bisa is a visionary; culturally aware, insightful, ancestor inspired and an all around generous sister. (She is also creating the first urban bread and breakfast in Newark! This is a marvelous idea. Why didn’t anybody ever think of this before?) She surrounds herself with women and men, engaging and creative, that paint, sculpt, stitch, make music play drums dance and bake cakes.. So much to be learned from the company of women artists, like Bisa, Sister Adrienne, Shirley Parker-Benjamin (check out http://www.eziliarts.com/) . Also got some good counsel from our sister artist emeritus, Gladys Grauer who stopped by. (Unfortunately, my camera died that day, so I don’t have many pictures of the event, but I will post what I have).

December 2008: Dolly-day party with Mindbodyandsoul Doll Club of Jersey City. Angela put on a great party, which was attended by fellow doll makers from GSDA of Neptune NJ and 3-D Doll Club of Mt. Vernon New York. Check out the show and tell table. Then, Garden State Doll Club had our holiday party where we did a doll exchange from a Judy Ward pattern. I got my wish – the doll I received was from my good friend and one of my favorite local dollmakers, Mary Louisa Klawatter (she also drew my doll!). Mary Lou designs dolls from her Scandanavian tradition. One special detail that I love, which unfortunately doesn’t translate well in photos, is that she hand embroiders the faces. More pictures on Stephanie Novatski’s blog, www.novasblossoms.blogspot.com.

Last but not least, we attended 3-D’s holiday party January 3, 2009 in Mt. Vernon. As usual, I got mad lost going there, but I was glad I went. The sisters always have a different take on dolls that I love to see and experience. We did a pin doll exchange which was lots of fun too.
*****
Now that the holidays are over, with no new shows planned, I can just sit back and work on the pieces that interest me. I have been experimenting with polymer clay heads over cloth bodies, and like the results. Although I think I still like paper clay better, polymer clay gives similar results much faster and is less labor intensive. Also, I want to work on some African tribal dolls out of the Maasai, Woodabe, and Ndebele traditions. All of these feature very intricate beading. That work is very slow going, so fortunately there are no time constraints. I also got hooked on pin dolls while I was home over the holidays. They are a good way of making use of scraps that are too small for anything else.

More artistic new years resolutions - do more with mixed media; don't be so literal always, be more abstract, in doll construction; experiment more with staging the dolls and telling a story; try art quilts, quilt journaling, wearables, polymer jewelry, ATCs. Stretch a bit.

Next weekend is Mindbodyandsoul Doll Club. I suggested we do a round robin doll, which is an idea I got from elinor peace bailey’s Mother Plays with Dolls. elinor is a master doll maker who I love, both for her irreverent love and use of colors in dollmaking and wearable art and her philosophical outlook on women, work, and giving ourselves permission to play. As women, we tend to take everything we do so seriously, even our recreation. I refer back to elinor’s book frequently to remind myself that creativity and expression is a right, not a privilege.

Artist Sabrina Zarco

2008-10-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

Pictured - Sabrina Zarco (right) with Project Runway finalist Korto Momolu; the fiber arts of Sabrina Zarco.

Please check out my online friend Sabrina Zarco (see sidebar "Chicana Creating Art from Chaos"). Sabrina is an amazing artist-educator-quilter/fiber artist out of Little Rock, AR. I stumbled upon her blog over a year ago, and have been spiritually uplifted and educated by her contributions ever since. Sabrina comes from a Chicana/Mexicana heritage and combines her culture and traditions with contemporary imagery. It is always facinating to see how similar we all are despite our different backgrounds while celebrating our diversity. I was particularly blown away by her posted work and words regarding Dia de la Muertos in October and November 2007. Her recognition of the ancestors and iconography was so reminiscent of West African Yoruba culture. Sabrina inspires, educates and uplifts with her art. Love you, Sister!

Check her out at http://www.sabrinazart.blogspot.com/

Some Friends of ours at Jersey City Open Doors, October 4, 2008

2008-10-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

Check out the lovely and talented dollmaker, Angela Huggins, at Jersey City Open Doors held at Canco Lofts on October 4, 2008. Also pictured, Senegalese artists Papa Gora Tall and Ibou N'Doye.

Village, Island, City - the Series and Where it Came From

2008-10-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: Naima & Child, 15" sitting; Najla, 15" sitting; Hagar & her Daughters, 20", all needlesculpted cloth, paperclay.

I was talking to my sisterfriend, Jalilah, recently about literature produced by Black women that has inspired and moved us over the years. Jalilah is a very talented writer, and she knows the works of the best of them. Who do I love? Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God), Toni Morrison (Song of Solomon, Sula, The Bluest Eye, Tar Baby, Beloved, Paradise - on and on), Gloria Naylor (Mama Day) Ntozake Shange (For Colored Girls; Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo; Betsey Brown) Alice Walker (The Color Purple, Secrets of My Familiar) and especially Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust - both the film and the novel, which adds entire worlds and dimensions to the film which preceded it). Stories of tribal life, family struggles, rituals, griots, Geechee girls... They take me to another place. They bring me home. I return to them often.

That conversation got me to thinking about a doll and quilt series, Village, Island, City, which would celebrate the lives (work, creativity, family, sisterhood, spirituality) of women in pre-slavery Africa, post-slavery Americas (Georgia & Carolina Sea Islands, the Caribbean, Cuba, Brazil the Blackbelt South, the great migration North) and urban life in the new millennium.

Around the same time that this idea began taking shape, Toni Thomas from the Catfish Friday women's artist collective contacted me about participation in the Newark Open Doors Studio Tour '08. The show, Multiple Me, will feature pieces that the artists have created as part of a series. There really are no coincidences.

I love working in fiber. Sewing for me is spiritual and meditative. Fiber is soft warm comforting elemental primal strong resilient sensuous womb-manlike. It comforts and protects. I imagine the earliest humans walking upright then yearning for something soft and warm to cover themselves. Leaves bark skins – eventually they start weaving elements together into fiber. The women dye it with mud and berries to make it beautiful. Berry red, indigo blue, moss green, saffron yellow. They stitch shells and bone to it for ornamentation.

I also love working with clay for the faces. It's messy like making mud pies. Somehow, I keep making variations of the same face. It is the face of my grandmother. I am always struck by how magestically African she looks.

Children of every race class culture from the beginning of time play with dolls. Sticks shells stones wood pinecones leaves. Cornhusks with potato sack dresses and buttons for eyes. Yarn and calico. Dolls are totem talisman secretkeeper; joyous healing and iconic. They are the definitive plaything of childhood, the beginnings of imagination.

My encounters with the women artists of Catfish Friday have been mind expanding and life changing. They have encouraged me to see myself as an artist and story teller, and to realize that the work has value outside of me. Everybody is moved by the dolls on a primal level, which was surprising and extremely gratifying. One sister, an accomplished sculptor, came up to me at the July show and whispered that she had 5 brothers growing up, and never owned a doll. We were both near tears, understanding that as grown women, we have to give ourselves the same permission to play and imagine as we command ourselves to work and responsibility. (Interestingly, I find that male artists always want to challenge and critique and question the artistic choices I make - "why did you use this line?", "why is her stomache so big and her butt so small?" Stuff like that. Men tend to value their work and worth, intrinsically. They will put a crazy-high price on what they do, sometimes even if its not good. We women tend to value everything and everyone else first - then maybe ourselves last if at all. I ain't mad at the brothers, though. There is a lesson in this somewhere. But I really enjoy working with women artists. Their critique tends to be kinder, gentler and non-competitive, which suits me. The only competition that matters is your competition with self.

I still play with dolls. I hope I can encourage other women to play with dolls, too.

Catfish Friday Women's Artist Collective at Newark Open Doors '08, October 20-30

2008-09-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Catfish Friday logo courtesy Toni Thomas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Catfish Friday, a Newark-based Woman's Art Collective, announces their participation in the Newark Arts Council's 2008 Open Doors Tour with an exhibit entitled, Multiple Me.

Multiple Me is an exhibition that features the works of some notable female artist working within a series. The series format is a typical way many artists work. It builds a collection, establishes a signature style, and creates the potential for multiple sales. Many artists use it for those reasons. Likewise, there are those who use it like the artists in this exhibit to develop an idea, get into the flow, or work a style until it is exhausted. Like variations on a theme, the works in this exhibit explore the possibilities. Whether created around a style, a medium or a theme the selections represent the outcome of what has compelled the artists to explore their multiplicity of options. These variable perspectives give the viewer a minute insight into how an artist may engage their work until they are satisfied, and sometimes not.

Featured artists are: Janice Anderson, Maggie Brown, Sadee Brathwaite, Gladys Grauer, Kathleen Heron, Diana Jensen, Ade Tugbiyele Sedita, Toni Thomas, Joya Thompson and Bisa Washington.

Multiple Me

Gallery: Space 972 located at 972 Broad Street

(next door to the Federal Building in downtown Newark)

Exhibit dates: October 20 through October 30, 2008

Hours: Tues - Saturday from 4-7 PM and by appointment

An artist reception will be held on Saturday October 25 from 7 - 11:00 PM

Featured at the reception willbe the literary voices of Catfish Friday poets:

Mary Baldwin, Elaine Lee, Esther Morales and Lebrashawn Turman

with a musical performance from vocalist SuMiya Dabney

For more information please call Toni Thomas @ 973-699-3269

The gallery and exhibit will be open during the entire Open Doors Weekend.

Special thanks to Blanche & Larry Silver, Ujima Majied & Newark Arts Council for making this exhibit possible.

Hajjah Aishatou

2008-09-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

One of the techniques we learned at Day with Dolls 2008 was the "Hang Your Imagination" Doll, so named because she began her life as a common coathanger, stapled to a wood base! I was able to finish my doll a week later, while visiting the new Soulful Doll Club in Jersey City. But it took a while longer for her to reveal her name to me. She looks quite a bit like my grandmother, Gertrude James. Ultimately, she "told" me her name is Hajjah Aishatou, a very nice Senegalese lady (after my beloved sister-in-law).

Surprise!

2008-09-11T05:03:00.001-07:00

I submitted this doll for inclusion in a gallery show, Surprise! First Annual Miniworks Exhibit at Unison Gallery, New Paltz, New York, October 3-28. She is 4", cloth, paperclay, acrylic and beads. The call was for miniature art works, any medium, no larger than 5" x 5" x 5".

Meditation Doll #1

2008-09-11T05:01:00.001-07:00

10" cloth, paperclay, acrylic.

Everything I Know about Dollmaking, I Learned at Day with Dolls

2008-09-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

Gwen Jackson and 3D Doll Club, demonstrating techniques. Dolls on display

Joyce Strohman with her sculpted creations. More dolls on display.

Gwen Jackson and the 3D Doll Club of Mt. Vernon, New York hosted this year's Day with Dolls in August. This is the place to be to learn, meet your peers, and see what other artists are doing with their craft. A great time was had by all. Thanks, Gwen and 3D. Can't wait 'til next year.

The Artist and Her Muse

2008-07-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

Images from Catfish Friday, the Exhibit

2008-07-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Having a good time at the exhibit; Shenita & me, Crystal & me, LaShay & me, Josh, Kelly & me again; Everybody; Mixed media artist Bisa Washington with "Rough, Dry and Nappy" (left) and "Double-Ended Promise" (right) by Ade Tugbiyele Sedita (not shown); Artist/Curator Toni Thomas with poet Esther Morales.

LaShay with mixed media artist/gallery owner Ade Sedita; the Eyeshadow Series with artist Diana Jensen, shown; poet Esther Morales; poet Elaine Lee (left "The Gift" by Gladys Grauer, not shown and right "Double-Ended Promises"by Ade Sedita).

Artist/Curator Toni Thomas with "Mermaid West" (acrylic on fabric with quilting) and "Mermaid Observing Wolf", mixed media on paper; performance by poet Esther Morales; artist Sadee Brathwaite with "Private Conversations", oil on canvas; LaShay with Auntie Joan.

"Private Conversations" by Sadee Brathwaite; my "kids" Josh & Kelly; LaShay with Auntie Gillian.

Earthlocz Spirit Dolls #5 and #6 - cloth, paperclay, acrylic.

The opening was a huge success – the art of Sadee Brathwaite, Mary Baldwin, Gladys Grauer, Diana Jensen, Tara Lamount, Toni Thomas, Ade Tugbiyele Sedita and Bisa Washington was phenomenal – the spoken word art of Esther Morales and Elaine Lee pulled it all together and made our spirits soar in Spanish and English! The guests were delightful. I am so gratified and humbled to have been included in a circle of such warm, accomplished, energetic and spiritually generous women. Please visit my new sidebar, Catfish Friday and Friends, for more on these visual artists.

Special thanks to Ade Sedita of Newark Art Supply for inviting us to share her gallery space (and for her kind encouragement to me over the last year), and to Toni Thomas for curating the exhibit (and for pushing me out into the deep water). You put everything together so smooth, you make it look easy (and I know it ain’t).

Also, thanks to my family/friends, Kelly & Josh, Shenita, Crystal & Co. (Crystal, your design of my postcards is off the chain!), Joan, Gillian, and of course, LaShay, my starchild who works the room as only she can. I love you all!

CATFISH FRIDAY, THE EXHIBIT - July 7 through 31, 2008

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Toni Thomas Contact: Newark Art Supply
Phone: 973-699-3269 Phone: 973-230-2828
Email: tthomas743@aol.com Email: info@newarkartsupply.com

Arts E.T.C. and Newark Art Supply proudly present Catfish Friday, the exhibit.
This exhibit features the work of women artists who participate in the women artists support group called Catfish Friday. Catfish Friday is the brainchild of Newark artist Toni Thomas. Each month for the past six months women artists from Newark and surrounding communities from New Jersey and New York have come together to share, discuss, and critique their art. This exhibit highlights the diverse, artistic explorations
of this very talented group of women.
The visual artists are Janice Anderson, Mary Baldwin, Sadee Brathwaite, Gladys Grauer, Diana Jensen, Tara Lamourt, Ade Tugbiyele Sedita, Toni Thomas and Bisa Washington. The featured poets are Elaine Lee and Esther Morales.

The women in this exhibit represent over 25 years experience in the arts with some extraordinarily talented artists on the cutting edge of the visual arts scene in this area. This diverse group of visual artists, writers and poets come together each month to share and nurture their artistic practices. They have created a contemporary art community for women that is positive, nurturing and non-competitive.

The exhibit at Newark Art Supply on 61 Halsey St. (on the corner of New St) in downtown Newark opens Monday July 7 and runs through Thursday July 31, 2008. Works can be viewed Monday – Friday from 9 AM - 7 PM and 9 AM -5 PM on Saturday. Opening reception is Saturday July 12 from 6-8 PM with poetry readings starting at 7 PM.

Garden State Doll Artisans at NJQuilts Convention 2008

2008-06-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

I was thrilled to have my dolls show for the first time with GSDA doll club at the State Quilt Guild of New Jersey 2008 show at the Raritan Center, Edison, NJ, June 12 - 14. Our exhibit generated quite a bit of interest.

I was also really pleased to see Lisa Shepard's Cultured Expressions booth, where I was able to shop and add some amazing Ghanaian batiks to my stash. Lisa is the artisan who I credit with starting down this creative path when I took part in her African Mosaic Quilt workshop a couple of years ago. Please visit Lisa at http://www.culturedexpressions.com/.

If You Danced to LaBelle - Lady Marmalade - in the 70's .... Hollah! This is my Hoffman Challenge Doll.

2008-06-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

I decided to enter the Hoffman Challenge for the first time after seeing the traveling exhibit in March of this year at the Quilt Show at Garden State Convention Ctr. The Hoffman Challenge fabric was something I never would have picked to work with, but I guess that's why its called a challenge. I purchased the challenge fabric and several of the coordinates - and was stuck for several weeks on what to do with it. One night, while I was sleeping, I awoke with the thought of a peacock as the bird of paradise. From there, I thought of Nona Hendrix, one of the original LaBelle trio, singing the original Lady Marmalade in the 1970s. Thirty something years, and I can remember dancing to those ladies in their feathers, leather and plumes as if it was today. That was the inspiration for this doll, who I call "Lady Bird of Paradise Sings the Blues. " (Hey Sista, Go Sista, Go Sista, Go Sista...)

2008-05-02T18:14:00.000-07:00

This is the African-American counterpart to Rebecca Gets Married. I made this one for me, and for show and tell.

Goddess Dolls

2008-05-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

I made these mini-goddess dolls for the secretaries in my office for Administrative Professionals Day. They were a big hit.

2008-05-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

Mary Lou Klawatter is a very talented doll artist and member of Garden State Doll Artisans. Mary's beautiful dolls with their unique hand embroidered faces made in the tradition of her Icelandic heritage have been featured many times in Art Doll Quarterlymagazine. She will be holding her first show on Saturday, May 10 at 600 Mule Road, Toms River, New Jersey. Congratulations Mary Lou!

Rebecca Gets Married

2008-04-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

My co-worker, Pat, asked me to make a doll for her daughter-in-law to be, Rebecca, for a shower gift. Pat is the keeper of the wedding gown, so she let me sneak a look. I took some pictures and made some sketches. The doll body is from a Mary Tressler pattern. Here is the finished doll.

Colleen the Green Goddess

2008-04-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

Colleen visited our March doll club meeting. I was so happy to see her, especially since I have been using the clay over cloth technique she taught at Day with Dolls. Our assignment was to bring the finished doll from the heads we worked on in the February meeting. I brought with me for show and tell my Frida Kahlo doll and an unnamed doll.

Coincidentally, my doll who had not revealed her name to me looked alot like Colleen! With her permission, I named the doll Coleen the Green Goddess.

My new favorites...

2008-04-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Last summer at a Day With Dolls, a lovely and vibrant woman named Colleen demonstrated a technique for making paper clay over cloth doll faces. I was a bit shy, and just watched, but didn't participate at the time. I did take her instruction sheet home, and filed it away.

But I was never quite satisfied with my needlesculpted faces. They all tended to come out looking the same. This January, I started experimenting with clay over cloth. I loved the results. The clay gave me more control and is very forgiving. If I don't like it, I just take it off and try again. Coincidentally, in February, Maria and Stephanie gave a class in clay over cloth with cloth overlay at doll club, which extremely helpful in refining the technique.

"I dream of Africa", "My Funny Valentine" and "Jill Scott Bless My House" are my new favorite dolls. They are one of a kinds using a modified Culea body and paperclay over cloth heads.

There's a first time for everything

2008-01-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, Everyone --My name is Janice and I am a brand new blogger. I am a novice dollmaker (coming up on two years) and member of the Garden State Artisans doll club. Having been inspired by the work of my fellow doll makers, I wanted to start putting my stuff out there - shamelessly seeking help, kind critique inspiration and encouragement from you all.

I made my first doll about two years ago after getting my feet wet in quiltmaking. Attended a class at the Newark Public Library given by Lisa Sheppard on the African Mosaic Quilt and I loved it. After that, I browsed Amazon for books on quiltmaking, and one day, Amazon suggested Cloth Doll Making by Patti Culea. Well, I ordered the book, tried a basic doll pattern, and it was on and crackin' as the kids say from there. It was as if some kind of power was set free inside of me as I made doll after doll after doll. Thanks bunches, Patti!

Then, one day late last spring, I was fabric hunting at Creative Sew N Sews quilt shop in Manalapan (they have since moved to Englishtown, NJ). I had my dolls that I call "the twins - Justice & Truth" in my tote bag. One of the ladies I was chatting with pointed across the store and said "Stephanie makes dolls, too." What an understatement! Stephanie turned out to be Stephanie Novatski, of Garden State Doll Artisans, and one of the featured dollmakers in Patti Culea's book Cloth Doll Couture. Stephanie graciously invited me to a meeting of the doll club.

As inspiring as it was to look at dolls published in books and on the web, that is nothing compared to actually being in a room full of "live" dolls and their creators. The inspiration, encouragement and instruction these women provide makes my spirit soar. Dianne Kearney, also a member of GSDA, invited me to attend "A Day with Dolls" where I met so many amazing creative women from New York, New Jersey, Connecticutt -- who knew such a thriving community existed all around me and right in my own backyard?

I am such a technophobe, it may be awhile before I can actually figure out how to post pictures on this thing... More later