JULEE DICKERSON-THOMPSON

My mother, Ann Stewart Dickerson, and I embarked on a mission to put a little spice in everyone ’ s life BROWN SPICES was born on October 2, 1979. The dolls & dudes were inspired by my 1st child/daughter. “Family Reunions” followed with homespun entertainment. Roland Freeman commissioned doll quilts (c. 1985). Here he combined our stories and the traditional quilting of Southern craftswomen. Meanwhile spin-offs such as griots, coloring book, cut- outs, newsletters, cards, and classes followed. Before long, the classes lead to a program, The Young Masters, which still exists today. The Brown Spices workshops continue to teach the art to young dollmakers.

The BROWN SPICES dolls and other related soft sculpture works have been exhibited in places such as The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum, The Banneker-Douglas Museum, The Jazz Museum, Jazzonia, and Sun Galleries among many other places. The Quilts are featured in Freeman’s book, “A Communion With The Spirits” . They have traveled internationally with his collection.

Today, there are new stories yet to be told. Stickdolls, Frannidolls, and Who-Do’s are waiting to be born. Brown Spice dolls (& dudes!) were promised a last reunion. I got the call now I must respond!