~’BLACK DOLLS’ / NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY / up thru JUNE 5
hand-made dolls of (a troubled) yesterday v. violent video games of (an unthinkable) today /
. . . think about it.
teach those boys – more trades. more skills. teach those boys . . how to knit.
and, it’s not a joke – btw.
if you want to talk about society though the lens of both history and art /
but most specifically: before and after the Internet / this is your . . baby !!!
DO NOT – DO NOT / DO NOT – MISS !!!!!!!!!
ONLY !! 2 weekends – left !!!!!!!!
for tickets: NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY: VISIT
if I was ever – put on this earth for a reason, it was to tell you about . .
this exhibit / it is truly such an amazing, living, breathing . . opportunity !!
it is so right on, so relevant, and even more so / most sadly, today.
and, I do mean: today / May 26, 2022.
presenting a wide range of . . handmade cloth dolls,
made primarily by African American woman between 1850 – 1940 /
this exhibit . . is just so wonderfully laid out – too.
including a rich & charming range of narrative ‘props’, from period sepia-toned photographs, through imaginary dollhouse displays, onto actual antique work baskets, and a nice sampling of the common household, re-cycled materials that were used.
and btw, the exhibit . . includes some of the best written museum text labels, too.
brief, informative, charming, and exact.
this very folk art & history driven exhibit is often surprising, which is so thrilling / but it’s just flat-out definitely super, super interesting . . for all:
from young child, to pre-teen friendship-bracelet weaver, to well: us . . . all.
it is the story of American history, society, and . . . yes: art !!
that’s Art with a capital A / I’m talking . . cutting-edge American art.
and, how we got here.
no doubt about it /
and, the intersection – is an absolute wake-up call.
‘Black Dolls’ . . .
is so full of love, laughter, and . . inevitably: tears.
but, tears / are not . . . death.
tears are not mowing down young children – tears are about raising them up / even in struggle.
heavy-lifting it was. but, tears are not . . violence.
Unidentified photograph, Woman and Children with Black Cloth, handmade Dolls, 1942.
Gelatin silver print, Deborah Neff Collection
image via Instagram @nyhistory / New-York Historical Society
‘BLACK DOLLS’ . . . . Feb 25 – JUNE 5, 2022
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 170 CENTRAL PARK WEST at 77the Street / NYC
note: including a . . ‘pathway of labels for younger visitors, age 5-12’,
and including some delightful, ‘interactive stations’ – for all !!
I know first-hand !!
for definite sure – I jumped over there / the very first weekend !!
SO .. get those tickets: BOOK YOUR TICKETS !!!!!
more exhibit info: ‘Black Dolls – New-York Historical Society’
‘Black doll in gentleman’s top coat’, 1860-70, Milton, MA / Maine.
hand-made, DIY / mixed fabrics, leather, brass, glass
Deborah Neff Collection
Photo: ELLEN McDERMOTT / via New-York Historical Society
check out: NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Instagram, @nyhistory