JUDY BOULDON-BAIN

Born 1938 in Trinidad, Ms. Boldon-Bain attended Tranquility Girls’ School. Upon graduation, she entered Port of Spain General Hospital’s School of Nursing, where she became a registered nurse. Subsequently, she attended Canada’s McGill University, where she received her degree in occupational therapy. One of the rehabilitation processes she studied was basketry. In 1983 Ms. Boldon-Bain relocated to St. Croix. There her involvement in basketry moved from a therapeutic to an artistic phase. In 1990 Ms. Boldon-Bain created her first Caribbean cultural doll, the “Quandrille Dancer”. The doll was woven from rattan reeds. Next came “The Market Woman”, “The Bele Dancer”, and “The Moko Jumbie”. In order to fulfill her desire for true Christmas Caribbean ornaments, Ms. Boldon-Bain created small woven ornaments, which were sold in gift shops and street fairs along with story cards that explained the design. In 2014 Ms. Boldon-Bain returned to Trinidad, where her dolls were nthusiastically received. As she did in St. Croix, Ms. Boldon-Bain taught ocal villagers her method of weaving. Within two years she added “The Jah Molassie”, “The Midnight Robber”, “The John Bull”, “The Baby Doll”, “The Burroqueet”, “The Dame Lorraine”, “The Moko Jumbie”, and “The Long Nose Sailor”, all characters of Trinidad”s Traditional Mas or Ole Time Carnival. Caribbean Cultural Dolls now has three production lines: Ole Time Masking in Carnival, Caribbean Dances, and Cultural Characters. Ms. Boldon-Bain is now researching these characters and their connections to her African ancestors: to their beliefs, and their resistance and rebellion against slavery.