The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Doll and Puppet Making Virtual Program

“Conversations with African American Doll & Puppet Makers about Spirituality, Creativity, and their Callings as Artists”
w/ PHYLLIS MAY-MACHUNDA
Held virtually on Tuesday January 16, 2024 | 8:00-10:00 PM
City Lore, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian, is pleased to present a Zoom session featuring conversations about the transformative power of spirituality in the doll and puppet making processes. The presentation and discussion featured a number of African American doll and puppet makers featured in the current exhibition, “The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Doll and Puppet Making.”
Emphasizing several orientations and perspectives on spirituality across their work, this conversation examined the artists’ callings to create dolls and puppets, and the ways their creations have offered transformative power for themselves and the betterment of the communities in which they live. Serving as moderator was the exhibit’s scholar, Dr. Phyllis May-Machunda, PhD., who also co-edited the exhibit’s accompanying book.
Participating Artists Included Camila Bryce-Laport, Elaine Robnett Moore, Francine Haskins, Paulette Richards, Yolanda Sampson, IBe' Crawley, Shimoda Donna Emanuel, and Judy Boldon Bain.
About the Exhibit
On View October 6th, 2023 - March 3rd, 2024
“The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Doll and Puppet Making,” is conceived and curated by Camila Bryce-Laporte, (a noted doll maker herself) in partnership with scholar Phyllis M. Machunda. This exhibition includes dolls and puppets created by a group of 26 nationally acclaimed multi-media artists from the African Diaspora, who came of age in communities in the United States during the height of the Civil Rights and Black Arts Movements. Using mixed media, these visual storytellers chronicle the history, identity, and culture of their communities. Compelled or “called” to continue the special and enduring tradition of Black doll making, these artists recognize that their works are healing and transformative for themselves and for the communities they represent.

[@AusetsStitchedTreasures]

Thank you so much for this presentation. ❤❤❤
Id like to purchase the book. Please let me know how to go about doing so.

[@erikayuille4691]

At 77, I found my TRIBE!