By Grandma Barbie?
Maybe not. Barbie could only dream of exuding this much personality.
Janet C. Fish of Madison is an artist. She creates fabric sculptures. Dolls.
This afternoon, Janet showed and explained her work at a Learning Connection class at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor. She’s been creating dolls off and on for about 30 years.
Janet has used all sorts of materials for doll-making. The Baby Blobs are made from expanding insulation foam. She’s made some from polymer clay, but “I always end up going back to fabric.” Janet doesn’t use patterns. “I just take scissors and cut.” She paints the cloth and seldom clothes her creations.
Cheryl Patton of The Learning Connection assisted Janet in showing the dolls to an audience of about 15 people.
“Which one next?” Cheryl asked.
“How about that naked one?” Janet replied.
Cheryl threw up her hands. “They’re all naked!” she said. “Work with me, Janet.”
The Grassroots Arts Center in Lucas has asked her for some items for their art museum. She currently has several items for sale in their gift store.
One of the expanding foam insulation dolls …
No two dolls are alike. And she’s all over the place with variety … even bugs and slugs …
Many of the dolls are accessorized with beads, trinkets and jewelry …
Janet is a friend and I’ve seen her work at her home, at the Arts and Crafts Fair in Marion, at the Artists Walk in Emporia. I’ve seen her photos of the dolls on the Internet. But I’ve never seen this many dolls of hers in one place at one time.
Each one has a presence and when you put the whole gang together – wow, an enormous flood of wild energy fills the room. It’s like a family reunion and all the crazy aunts have shown up.
Wish I could have been there———–Janet just looks like she is having toooooooo much FUN!!!!!!!!!!
I love this: “It’s like a family reunion and all the crazy aunts have shown up.” And that’s right above the doll that I sort of thought that way about. Aside from the fact that she’s naked, she seems like that sort of wild and crazy aunt we all wish we had, or would dread having, either way.
Janet
All my nieces have always called me their “crazy aunt”——–can you believe that——-it just shocks me –that they would call me that!!!!!!!
Janet—– I love your dolls—–they remind me of so many of my friends——they are all march to their own drum beat!!!!!!!
Wow! Your doll creations are just incredible! You are an amazing artist.
Janet’s work is powerful. Especially when you see it in person. I’m so happy that her dolls will be at the Grassroots Arts Center in Lucas! Well, some of it’s there now – in the gift store!