Dioramas at Mission San Carlos Borromeo at Carmel

Inside the Mission at Carmel, behind glass is a miniature village scene that looks more like Renaissance Europe than ancient Bethlehem (other than the Greek Temple to one side). It's interesting. Opposite is a Good Friday scene of the Crucifiction. There are several beautiful icons and large scale figurines of The Blessed Mother with baby Jesus wearing richly ornamented Renaissance and Baroque fabric clothing complete with encrusted embroideries, as distinct from the statues where the clothes are stone, marble or plaster.

The Word Is Art Gallery Art Doll exhibit opening.

A selection of the exhibits.

I felt very starstruck, in exalted company, when I joined fellow art doll artists at the opening reception of the Art Doll exhibit at The Word Is Art Gallery in Culver City, CA last Saturday evening. I have three dolls in the exhibit but what was most exciting for me was meeting and seeing the works of Vega, Nola and Ute Vasina.

Nola and one of her box dolls (with its own teeny dolly).

Vega's work is magnificent - creepy, cool and very detailed.(Keep your sound turned on for her website.) Nola uses vintage and new-but-retro-looking materials to create sweet, delicate prim style soft dolls with a wistful air, while Ute's needle sculpted Trolls of great renown have so much character and humor. Visit her site for patterns and other fabulous art doll supplies.

Vega, Ute and Troll friend.

Along with the art of these three, are dolls in every style and of many sizes, including a portrait doll of Jackson Pollock by Wendy and some beautiful cloth stump dolls. Be alerted however that the exhibit goes only for the next 2 weeks until April 14th. 

After that you will still be able to see and purchase some of the dolls by gallery co-op members as well as enjoy the fine art and functional pieces, including some beautiful hand made jewelry, felted art, photography and acrylic paintings. I was especially drawn to the modernist mixed media work of painter Christine Binns (one to watch, IMO).

Christine with my favorite of her paintings (with a special guest by Renee Troy peeking out).

Don't forget there are some cool classes linked to the Art Doll exhibit - see the Gallery blog for more details.


View Larger Map

If you see the exhibit, please let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Also as always, please Pin!