COMMENTARY

"The Village of African American Doll Artists" is an art exhibition that takes an intriguing look at images through the lens of identity. The show is stellar. The curators and image makers are a grouping of renowned African American doll and puppet artists who are unparalleled among their peers. They are living legacy. They are seasoned culture keepers. Their work includes dolls and puppets made of fabric, wood, papier-mâché, ceramic, air-dried clay, found items, and so, so much more.

Several of the artists got their start as textile creatives, while others began working in other art forms before being drawn to the making of dolls and/or puppets.

The utilization of dolls as objects dates back to the oldest civilizations. All peoples of the earth have used doll making to see themselves and grow, as well as to encourage a pathway for connectivity. In the same vein, dolls actually are varied and expressive replicas of ourselves, and thus an important vehicle for identity. The objects in "The Village of African American Doll Artists" are identity pieces that portray the human experience through the use of imagination and cultural awareness. The dolls look like their makers, as well as the communities that they have grown from, exist within, and lean towards. The artistry shows value, attitude, and ethnicity in a most positive and natural way.

Additionally, use of dolls as a lens for identity, can present an interesting study of culture, history, legacy, and social life. "The Village of African American Doll Artists" is definitely an expression of ethnicity... and quite assuredly a play date that frolics between past, present, and future. The exhibition artists love to share culture, folklore, and folkways, with a hearty dash of history, through the creation of one of a kind iconic original works of art. In addition to enriching a sense of identity, the exhibition conveys ideas, customs, and lifestyles with a particular, and consistent, nod to a robust and royal ethnicity.

"The Village of African American Doll Artists" is an exhibition situated in a nonnarrative environment. In this way visitors are encouraged to investigate, contemplate, and engage with the artwork as intimate objects linked to identity, while considering form, symbol, and meaning… or maybe just enjoy the aesthetic beauty in the collection of work within art gallery ambiance… or fold into the artistry, focusing on each doll as an analysis of social life. No matter the choice, an uplifting experience is a promise.

In closing, our dolls are our mirrors. Through our dolls, we see ourselves clearly as we break down the many taboos that are stacked unfavorably against us. We are artists who use our work to speak volumes. We are fighters in an ongoing effort to bring more beauty, justice, and balance to the global landscape.

Kibibi Ajanku, MFA Artist and Curator