The William Grant Still Arts Center is currently celebrating its 37th Annual Black Doll Show exhibition until February 17. “Jubilee, Celebrations in Color” is the theme of this year’s events which focuses on gatherings, coming together and events to remember through doll artistry and displays.
“Jubilee, Celebrations in Color” seeks to reshape the dialogue on Black life and identity as portrayed in mainstream American media and in dominant narratives. The exhibition creates a counter narrative through highlighting how the Black community sees itself as portrayed in the traditional rites of passage and cultural events. The exhibition includes hand painted murals by Patrick Johnson and AISEBOURNE.
This year’s doll show wants showcase Black life as a celebration of events: monumental, small, ordinary, and extraordinary, events that depict Black life in all its facets, as well as to explore “cultural image” as depicted through the beauty and diversity of dolls.
The public is invited to learn and practice doll making at three Saturday doll making workshops on January 6 and February 3 from 2-4pm. The exhibition will also offer a curatorial walk through with curator Stephanie Moore.
Born and raised “ L.A. Girl”, who has been a teacher for over 33 years, Moore is an avid doll collector, with a collection of her own which is soon to reach the 900+ range. She happily and unashamedly admits that “Dolling” is a very important part of who she is.
Moore hopes to spread her love of dolls to everyone around her. She is a member of Crescent Bay Doll Fanciers, president of the Tri-County Doll Council and a member of the United Federation of Doll Clubs. In addition to collecting dolls she also teaches doll classes, sponsoring junior collector events, hosting dolly excursions, doll shows, and putting on doll exhibitions throughout southern California.
William Grant Still Arts Center is located at 2520 South West View Street in Los Angeles CA 90016. For more information, please visit https://wgsac.wordpress.com/. You can follow the WGSAC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can contact them at (323) 734-1165.
