BLACK DOLLS openedΒ at Mingei International Museum in San Diego onΒ February 7, 2015 and will run through July 5, 2015.
This new exhibition presents a collection of 125 unique,
handmade African American dolls made between 1850 and 1940, on view publiclyΒ for the first time. Faithful yet stylized representations of young and oldΒ African Americans, the dolls portray playful boys and girls, finely dressedΒ gentlemen and elegant young ladies, distinguished older men and stately,
determined women of mature years.
The dolls are believed to have beenΒ created by African Americans for children that they knew members of theirΒ own families and communities as well as white children in their charge. Embroidered, stitched and painted faces express a variety of emotions -surprise, puzzlement, contentment and joy.Β The dolls featured are constructed with mixed media using materials on hand.
A number of dolls are simply presented, while others wear elaborate clothingΒ including undergarments, coats, hats, shoes and accessories. Many were madeΒ of leftover materials, including precious bits of lace, ribbon and selvage.Β Several dolls have delicate paper clothing, teeth and eyes; others have aΒ small piece of wood or leather inserted under the fabric to form a nose.Β Some dolls have heads made from coconut shells, leather-wrapped heads and
limbs, or make use of manufactured doll parts.
BLACK DOLLS also includes a selection of rare 19th and 20th centuryΒ photographs of dolls, posed alone or clutched by their young owners; theseΒ provide a historical context for these handmade and cherished companions.
Mingei International Museum presents BLACK DOLLS as an art exhibition, whileΒ understanding that these objects may be touchstones for a range ofΒ experiences and emotions. While little information is known about theΒ history of the individual dolls, each one has a story to tell: stories ofΒ the makers, stories of the children who played with and treasured them,Β stories lived out through each dolls use and the stories thatΒ we each bring to them when viewing this exhibition.
To illuminate theseΒ stories and to honor Black History Month, the Museum has collaborated withΒ several artists and community arts organizations to develop a robustΒ calendar of public programs and events related to the exhibition.
BLACK DOLLS is the fourth exhibition in Mingei International Museum’sΒ 18-month exhibition theme AMERICAN ICONS – Celebrating Folk Art, Craft andΒ Design from Coast to Coast.
Learn more at www.mingei.org/americanicons
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
FILM SCREENING – Why Do You Have Black Dolls?
Wednesday, February 25, 6-8pm
A film screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary, Why Do YouΒ Have Black Dolls?, with the film’s director and producer, Samantha Knowles.
Knowles will be joined by Mingei staff and Gaidi Finnie of the San DiegoΒ African American Fine Arts Museum to discuss the film and the exhibitionΒ BLACK DOLLS.
Free with Museum Admission