A doll - fashion or otherwise - is the offspring of an intention. Sometimes, that intention is crassly exploitative, aiming to simply make money. But even in such a situation, said doll still will possess a truth to and about those who will -captivated by what they see- welcome her in their collections. And once on display, in or out of the box, the doll will transform and become part of a dichotomous reality, one that is both illusory and ever-so-tactile.
Dolls created by independent artists carry a most different substance as their original intention, despite being offered for sale, is to present the specific aesthetic perspective, full of meaning and motive, of their creators. These creations will also become, once in dynamic exchange with their admirers, unique representatives of aspirations and perspectives.
Be what the doll be, Dolldom is fascinated by the that which the doll expresses, as that message is as much the product of the objective elements that compose the doll as it is the subjective interpretation of them.
Photography is the medium via which Dolldom engages in that visual study that later, carefully combined with words, will create what will hopefully be a celebration of humanity's exploration of itself. Why would we, through millennia, have worked so assiduously to replicate the human form? What is it that we aim to find, to understand and to see in a doll?
Independent doll artist Joey Versaw, creator of, among many others, the fabulously bodacious Miss Mary doll - one of Dolldom's most beloved darlings, and his YouTube channel are the vlog equivalent of our blog, and via substantial conversations with doll artists, Versaw focuses on documenting the diverse pursuit of the capturing the human essence in doll form.
For this interview, Dolldom prepared a special imbibe honoring Versaw's Miss Mary. Here's the recipe:
1 part gin, poured over a big ice cube.
A delicate and ever so limited pouring of Campari.
A cranberry or two, cut in half.
Once the gin is cold and has bloomed, add the Campari and mix. Strain and pour into a cocktail glass with cranberries.
Also for this interview, Dolldom set a special display of dolls to provide a context to our creative process. As the Miss Mary cocktail had already had its intended effect, not all dolls were properly placed in front of the Zoom camera and the accompanying photo portfolio aims to present them in their full glory.
Dolldom thanks Joey Versaw for including our voice among those of creators who have had an immense impact on our own pursuits.
A Licca Castle doll in a gorgeous gown by Endangered Sissy.
Hildy, one of Versaw's characters from his Pulp Dolls line.
Viktor Dreary by Tonner Doll Company in a fashion by Andrea Jacques of The Doll Workshop. Hat by Peggy Feltrope. Inset eyes by Jim Dandy.
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