Art School of Dolls: Reflection From NY Doll Collecting Examiner

Elizabeth de Almeida is the Art Doll Collecting writer for the New York Examiner. I really love her tweets and her writings on doll collecting. I thought her latest entry dated September 28th was quite educational and informative. Quoting directly from her post:


"In all forms of art there is a school of thought, imagery and style; a method within the productions and creations of artistry; a discipline that brings fruition to new forms which is used to express culture, tradition, life and vision.

In doll artistry there are different types of schools that promote such characteristics of descriptive visuals or style and artful methodology; Schools of style, such as folkloric, realism, surrealism, modernism and primitive art. When such schools of vision are spoken of, usually paintings, marble or bronze statues and sculptures come to mind. But these schools of visions apply also to the artistry of dolls. Whether the subject matters are dolls of fashion to historic eras, or from cloth dolls to dolls of porcelain and sand, doll artistry presents that imaginative metrology of technique, tradition in training, discipline in the pursuit of perfection and professionalism.

Doll Artistry is a school of many revelations. It is a school of ingenuity, imagery, originality, that holds up strongly in the world of art.

Doll artistry is a collective body of works, that continues to be sought out by enthusiasts, so that all who come in contact with these creations, share in the creative spirit that doll artistry can convey through the world of doll collecting."

WOW! I love how she puts everything in such a way that to me explains what doll artistry truly is. Particularly I am intrigued with her various "Schools". I cannot wait for her next article on primitive dolls.

To read more check out Elizabeth de Almeida's post here

The Joy Diet: Art of Nothing

This is a doll I made this week. She is happy doing nothing.

Okay folks, the nothing that I did this week:

1) I took a couple of walks
2) Sat in my chair for 15 minutes doing nothing with my eyes closed.

Very hard folks! But this exercise taught me to be still and know. I thought about this as I heard an old Beatles tune "Let It Be" ..... There will be an answer... Let it Be." So that was what I did this week. Things that I normally worry about, I just let it be and said what will get done will get done. Not to fret.

So with that attitude I begin the next week and the day looking forward to reading the next chapter and practicing in my own humble way what it means.

Sites and Sounds of the New Studio

Just wanted to share with you some pics of the new studio. I put some fabric and other inspirations on the wall. Working on my commissions right now in the studio. As I am writing this I am listening some Beatles music on www.MACCAradio.com, in particular, Come Together, from Anthology 3.

Textile & Craft Tour of Ghana

Lisa Shepard Stewart of Cultured Expressions fabric shopping in Africa


Lisa Shepard Stewart one of my colleagues of Cultured Expressions is sponsoring a trip to Ghana, West Africa, September 16-17, 2010. Among the activities planned are fabric and beading workshops, visits to artist studios, tours of Accra, Kumasi and the Cape Coast. Lorna K. Johnson, Principal of Global Linkages and a specialist in group travel in Africa will be working on the logistics.

As a doll and mixed media artist, one of my favorite activities is to shop for fabric particularly in their native countries! In particular, I am most interested in batiks.

I am planning on attending so I am saving my money NOW! I hope you will consider joining me. For more details click here.

The Joy Diet: A Journey To My Happy & Creative Self

As usual my twin sister Sharon of Gemini Visions is always on the cutting edge of the blogging, twittering and facebook world. She mentioned to me about a blogger book club that is going to reading The Joy Diet by Martha Beck. At first, I said to myself, "you know I do not have the time to read something like this and keep up with the postings." Then I simply went to the The Next Chapter The Joy Diet Book Club blogger website by Jamie Ridler, a certified professional co-active coach and was totally hooked in.

You see the actual begin date was this past Friday. However, in my usual late way, I just read about it in detail today and thus am starting today. I did not have the book so just clicked on my trusty Amazon link and ordered it. I will be getting it by Tuesday so I can too join in on the fun and learning.

The first chapter in the book is called Nothing. So which will be a REAL challenge for me, I will dedicate myself for this first week to occupying time doing NOTHING. What will that be? I will post this experience on Friday.

Here is how it works. We begin each chapter each week and post on the following Friday. Here is the schedule:

Sept 18: Welcome & start your week of Nothing

Sept 25: Post about nothing & start your week of Truth

Oct 2: post about Truth & start your week of Desire

Oct 9: post about Desire & start your week of Creativity

Oct 16: post about Creativity & start your week of Risk

Oct 23: post about Risk & start your week of Treats

Oct 30: post about Treats & start your week of Play (how cool is it Treats is almost on Halloween!)

Nov 6: post about Play & start your week of Laughter

Nov 13: post about Laughter & start your week of Connection

Nov 20: post about Connection & Start your week of Feasting

Nov 27: post about feasting & celebrate!

Sounds like fun and it will give me the opportunity to be able to focus on doing what I can to keep my brain active and creative!

If you would like to join in check out the blog here and sign up!

Check in on Friday on how I was able to successfully implement the art of "Nothing" this week.

Sankofa Studio is Now on Twitter!

You can now find us on twitter! Click here to follow us!

Donating a Doll To Further Education

Hi I have decided to donate one of my dolls- Long Tall Sally to support a really cool organization! Reach for College! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equity by increasing and supporting the number of traditionally disadvantaged students who pursue and complete post-secondary education.

On Saturday, September 19, 2009 Reach for College is holding their Annual Gathering and Arts Fundraiser to Benefit Youth Going to and Succeeding in College in Baltimore, Maryland. However, this is a closed private reception.

For more information or if you would like to donate to this worthy cause contact the Reach for College at 202-246-7357.

Announcing the Artists Advisory Board

I have been invited to participate to aid the ARCH Development Corporation in Washington, DC to further their mission to use arts and culture as a catalyst for revitalization in the Anacostia neighborhood in Southeast DC.

The ARCH Development Corporation {or ADC} is a not for profit cultural development organization located in the Historic Sector of Anacostia in Southeast, Washington, DC.

The ADC mission is to aid in 1.) positively & inclusively revitalizing Anacostia, East of the Anacostia River, 2.) helping to create sustainable living neighborhoods within the Historic Sector and 3.) creating a home for the arts and artists, east of the Anacostia River.

My Committee will meet bi-monthly, and will provide advice, creative vision and scope of work in the following areas:
Arts Advocacy
Artist Opportunities
Marketing & Communications
Artist Housing & Workspace

I look forward to providing my input on this important committee.

Liberated Muse: Celebration of Freedom at the Potter's House

Time: September 11, 2009 from 7pm to 10pm
Location: THE POTTER'S HOUSE
Street: 1658 Columbia Rd NW
City/Town: WASHINGTON DC
Website or Map: Potter's House

Liberated Muse Productions is at it again with another musical night of performances from DC's best and readings from the new book release Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul which features visual artists and writers from the Liberated Muse network.

Featured performers include songstress Quineice Clarkson, musician Gary Young, diva singer Mahoganee, poetic vocalist Ozara Ode and the spoken word of Margaux Delotte-Bennett and Jade Andwele of the renowned Saartjie ("Sar-Key) Project. Jazzy soul vocalist Colie Williams will open the show with a half-hour set with members from her band.

The evening will be hosted by Moon of Liberated Muse and feature live art by visual artist extraordinaire Choke, the Liberated Muse member of this month of August.

Libeated Muse member, curator, and my twin sister, Sharon Burton will also curate an exhibit of visual art which will be open for viewing during the show at the Potter's House. The exhibit will feature work from artists featured in the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and others. I will have two small mixed media pieces as part of this show.

Donations from the event will fund youth programming facilitated by the Saartjie Project. A $7 donation is requested, but all are welcome to pay as they can.

FOOD IS SERVED AT THIS VENUE.

This event is part of the Potter's House Sounds of Hope benefit series, produced by Mary Shapiro.