SAVE THE DATE: Feminine Identity Exhibition, September 1- October 29, 2010

Huntington Community Center, Bowie, Maryland



I am in the process of planning my second two-woman, art exhibition with Sharon J. Burton of Gemini Visions Studio, entitled "Feminine Identity" which is scheduled for September 1-October 29th at Huntington Community Center in Bowie, Maryland. I am in the process of preparing my next mixed media assemblage art doll series to be a part of that exhibition. I will share more details closer to the opening!

Black History Doll Show and Sale Highlights From This Weekend!

One of my commissioned dolls in the show!


A group of young ladies who were members of a support group to encourage self esteem for young girls using dolls stopped by.



Doris McGillan, Doll Artist, shows off one of her beautifully created dolls.

Two of my dolls on display




Daisy Carr proudly shows one of her doll creations!


Several more of my dolls on display.



Carole Brothers of Agape Dolls



This weekend's Black Doll Show and Sale was fantastic. It was held Friday, February 19th and Saturday, February 20th at the PG Plaza Mall in Hyattsville, Maryland. Several great doll makers and artists were in attendance including, Carole Brother of Agape Dolls, Doris McGillan of Heritage Designs, Daisy F. Carr, Doll Artist and Designer, among others.

Yours truly enjoyed the event and learned a lot of about the Doll Making and Showing world. Several of my colleagues and fellow doll makers from New York City came down and showed support for several artists in the show.

Many visitors to the show noted it was their first time being surrounded by so many beautiful dolls. Others were serious collectors who were regular visitors to the show. Still some were regular collectors of some of the doll makers in attendance. I met some new collectors of my dolls as well.

WUSA Channel 9 in Washington, DC covered some video and interviewed several artists about their works. Film footage included all the artists in attendance. Barbara Whiteman of the Philadelphia Doll Museum was also in attendance.

If you missed it there will be another one in the fall. Keep your eyes and ears posted. I will be there again!

Sankofa Studios Has Been Accepted Into Passageways Studios in Riverdale, Maryland!

I just wanted to let you know that I have just been juried into the Passageways Artist Studio in Riverdale, Maryland! Therefore, Sankofa Studio will have an established studio from which we will be working. I am so excited and in the process of moving now!

A little about Passageways:

Passageways came together in 1991 when a group of local artists found a large open space for rent in conveniently located Riverdale, Maryland. The artists rolled up their collective sleeves and constructed ten airy studios - learning to make drywall partitions, and other construction tasks. Five of the early members are still active in Passageways.

Passageways functions as a cooperative, providing: a congenial working environment for creative artists; an opportunity to interact, collaborate, and learn from colleagues; and an opportunity to show work with other members of the group. The various members work in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, photography, stained-glass, sculpture, tapestry, quilting and fiber arts - wherever the muse directs.

They host an open-studio event twice a year - in the spring and in the fall. The dates are posted on this website, along with directions. They heartily invite you to come to the open-studio to see the latest work of our artists, and chat with them about art, while enjoying light refreshments.

The ARTISTS section of this website contains representative samples of our work along with contact information. You are invited to call to arrange an appointment to view and discuss the work of a favorite artist in greater depth.

Studio vacancies occur from time-to-time. If you are a working artist and wish to be placed on a waiting list for studio space, call them at 301 459-8038, and learn more about the jurying process.

Future posts will include photos of the new space! Stay tuned!

My Artist's Date in Solomons, Maryland: Art & Nature!

Folks, there comes a time where you have to take yourself on an artist's date. Not just any artist's date but one where you truly immerse yourself in a totally different environment than you normally do. For those of you who don't know an artist's date is one that was popularized by the book entitled, "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. See the May posts for more information about her and my experience with her workshop.

Last week I went to Solomon's Island, Maryland which is about an hour away from where I live in Washington, DC. I stayed at the Solomon's Victorian Inn a lovely place where I found the inn keepers, Helen and Richard a true joy to stay with. The place was so nicely landscaped and serene. I felt I wanted to stay there forever. It was truly about art and nature and my being.

First, because of my feng shui studies I am considered a weak water element. Which means that water and surrounding myself with it nourishes and replenishes all that I am. Therefore I needed to be near water which Solomons has a lot of.

Second, I wanted to be inspired by nature, water and art and to my surprise I successfully had acquired all three!

My room had a lovely view of the boat docks and was very comfortable.

I traveled around the island visiting various places, particularly the eateries such as the CD Cafe and the Four Winds Cafe taking in all the good seafood I can possibly stomach.

The highlight however, was visiting Anne Marie Garden Sculpture Park and Arts Center .

This artful delight provided me a sense of true artistic delight as I roamed the outdoor sculpture park filled with various sculptures borrowed from the Smithsonian Institution. The highlight was the "Woman's Walk" which featured various sculptures of women in various forms. This was truly a spiritual experience.

The sculptures that I experienced really set the mood and provided me inspiration for the doll work and mixed media work I do.

As I walked the grounds of the park I felt very meditative. I took as many photos as I could to provide me memories of this glorious experience with you.

If you are an artist or even if you are not, consider taking yourself on an artist date. It is one of the best mental health experiences you can give yourself.

I hope you enjoy!

Maryland Society of Doll Collectors: A Black and White Tea

On a beautiful spring Saturday, I attended the first Maryland Society of Doll Collectors Black and White Tea on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Seven Oaks Community Center in Odenton, Maryland. The Tea featured several doll vendors, a silent auction benefiting the UFDC Foundation, a Doll Forum: The State of the Doll Union and a presentation of Souvenir Dolls.

Welcome remarks were made by Carolyn Ames, the Tea Chairperson followed by an invocation by Jackie Harpp. Greetings were given by Stacia Pate, President of the Maryland Society of Doll Collectors. Doll maker and member Jean Henderson later led a panel discussion of distinctive dolls called the "Doll Forum: The State of the Doll Union" where various members posed as dolls and discussed their appreciation and love for their collectors.

Welcome delights, assorted teas, finger foods and desserts rounded out the affair. The table settings were just wonderful with the finest decorative flair I have ever seen in Black and White. By the way did I say that everyone had to wear black and white?