THE DOLL SHOW

The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild presents THE DOLL SHOW – a group exhibition of 44 artists who have incorporated dolls into their creative practices. Curated by Eva Melas, Portia Munson and Carri Skoczek, this exhibit explores the dual nature of dolls—both eerie and endearing, drawing from a broad range of doll representations, including beloved figures like Raggedy Ann, Chatty Cathy and Barbie, as well as culturally significant artifacts such as folk art dolls, Mexican paper mache figures, Haitian voodoo dolls, and ethnic dolls in traditional costumes. This broad spectrum highlights how dolls can embody fairy tales, personal memories, and cultural narratives. Also included in The Doll Show will be hundreds of dolls from the curators’private collections hung and arranged together on a large wall.
Historically, dolls have served diverse roles: as messengers to ancestors and deities, ritualistic tools, educational aids, instruments of political satire, and mystical objects of protection. This exhibition showcases an array of artistic styles and interpretations, ranging from social commentary to whimsical, metaphorical, magical, and even terrifying representations. The artworks on display reflect the multifaceted nature of dolls—some crafted to offer protection, others to provoke, and many to captivate with their beauty or evoke a sense of the uncanny.