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The
National Institute of American Doll Artists was officially
founded in May l963, at the Watts Barr Resort near Ozone,
Tennessee by Helen Bullard, who gathered with her cofounders,
Gertrude Florian, Magge Head and Fawn Zeller. These artists,
working primarily in isolation had cometo know each other
through the annual conventions of the UnitedFederation
of Doll Clubs (UFDC), a national doll collectors organization,
which they had been attending since the early l950s.
Bullard,
fascinated by the work of the artists she was meeting,
had been writing their stories and publishing them in
The Toy Trader, a small but widely read trade magazine
edited by Elizabeth Andrews Fisher. The first monograph
Bullard completed and published was on Dorothy Heizer.
That was followed by others on Fawn Zeller, Ruth ElleryThorpe,
Avis Lee, Dewees Cochran, Gwen Flather and Martha Thompson.
Five of these artists came to the UFDC Convention in Buffalo
in l962 and Bullard rented a nearby room in which their
work was exhibited with great success. In September of
that year Bullard and Dewees Cochran corresponded about
organizing a formal group of creative doll makers. The
May l963 meeting was set up and the four artists mentioned
above officially organized themselves into the National
Institute of American Doll Artists, inviting Dewees Cochran,
Dorothy Heizer, Ellery Thorpe, Martha Thompson, Hale Blakely,
Lewis Sorensen and Muriel Buryere to join them as charter
members. The group's aim was to work together toward a
common goal: the recognition of original handmade dolls
as fine art. The first NIADA exhibit was held on August
13, 1963, at the Los Angeles UFDC Convention. The work
of the eleven charter members, plus that of newly elected
member Tamara Steinheil, was displayed.
The
original group of founding artists had put in place by-laws,
procedures and standards for acceptance of new members.
Over the l960s and early 1970s NIADA grew and further
organized itself. Early artists who served as presidents,
such as Astry Campbell, Wee Paulson and Magge Head incorporated
the organization, established a Standards Committee and
set up the group's own annual meetings, as the group grew
too large to continue meeting at the annual UFDC Convention.
NIADA
TODAY
Charter
members Halle Blakely, Muriel Bruyere, Gertrude Florian,
Magge Head, Martha Thompson and Fawn Zeller worked in
"bisque and Parian." Dorothy Heizer, many of whose dolls
reside in the Smithsonian, was a "cloth sculptor." Dewees
Cochran, began in balsa wood, then moved to composition.
Lewis Sorenson, the only man making dolls in the USA at
the time, used wax. They reflected their era in medium,
terminology and subject. Historical figures, children
and portraits were a predominant theme. As are NIADA artists
today, the pioneers were also teachers, sharing their
knowledge with other artists.
Today
some artists still work in traditional mediums and concepts.
Others have moved to newer, modern mediums such as polymer
clays and air-dried clays. NIADA dolls differ from many
other dolls because the originators are known. It is not
known who designed, or made, many of the antique dolls
that have been so carefully preserved. Each NIADA doll
is authenticated as a painting or a piece of sculpture.
Dolls made by NIADA artists are in many great doll collections,
art museums and numerous private collections. Today, in
an era of staggering prices, an artist is often not rewarded
monetarily. Sometimes over 100 hours of work goes into
the creation of just one doll. It takes much time to produce
one doll and an artist is often limited in the number
of dolls which can be made.
NIADA
dolls are not copies of an old doll (although an artist
may choose to caricature, spoof or make a social commentary
on such a doll). It is not a conglomeration of limbs made
from molds made by other artists; it is not a beautiful
head placed on a stump of a body. It is a complete entity.
It conveys a message, usually some facet of culture, which
mirrors life and can be a record for future generations.
NIADA dolls also depict the past, capture the present
and, in many instances, interprets the artist's own version
of [other] influences. Each artist has an individual style.
Art is a subjective matter and [one] can be objective
in evaluating art forms to a limited degree.
Today
one finds NIADA dolls well represented in the print media,
on the Internet, value guides and in exhibitions and shows
worldwide. NIADA flourishes as an international organization
representing artists from France, England, Germany, Switzerland,
The Netherlands, Denmark, Russia, Japan Australia and
Canada. Annual Conventions have been held separately and
immediately before or after UFDC Conventions. The NIADA
Annual Conferences always an exciting event sharing
knowledge of the art of the doll through master classes,
presenting programs, visiting artists critiques, The NIADA
Gallery, and the Annual Show and Sale and much more.
NIADA
is thrilled to see the work of artists who have exceptional
merit. The Standards Committee is available to all aspiring
artists who meet the established criteria (See Becoming
A Member on the NIADA website). The committee evaluates
the basic elements of form, movement and anatomy, the
construction of the figure, handling of the media, the
technique and craftsmanship of the finish and finally
sees if the artist has conveyed a message through this
art form. Every applicant should have something new and
vital to contribute.
In
1999, NIADA initiated its website- www.niada.org.This
website is an educational tool presenting a rotating series
of NIADA Artist dolls, dollmaking tips, news of annual
conferences, a list of resources and much more. For two
years (1999-2001) NIADA published NIADA ArtForm, a quarterly
publication devoted to the art of the doll. Artists and
Patrons communicate through an online newsletter (printed
for those who do not have computers).
To
become an Artist or Patron Member go to Become
a Member on the sidebar of the web site. If questions
arise from perusal of the web site, email contact is available.
The
only way to really experience the vibrant exciting world
of the art of the doll is to attend a NIADA
Conference. Conferences are an annual event welcoming
members, friends and visiting artists.
Helen
Bullard's remarkable vision, NIADA, has evolved into a
vibrant International organization. Helen Bullard died
in 1996. Her legacy moves forward.
NIADA
Resources
NIADA
web site: http://www.niada.org
The
NIADA Archive-This archive, available only to members,
is a compilation of over 2000 slides, prints and transparencies
UFDC
(www.ufdc.org)
has several slide programs about NIADA dolls
The
Helen Bullard Archive: The Southern Highlands Craft Guild,
Asheville, NC www.southernhighlandcraftguild.org
The Southern Highland Craft Guild has also been the
recipient of some early NIADA dolls
Books
About NIADA Artists:
The
American Doll Artist, Volume I by Helen Bullard-First
Printing: Charles T. Branford Company, Boston, MA l965
--- Second Printing:
The Summit Press LTD. Falls Church, VA 1977 (out of print)
The
American Doll Artist - Volume II by Helen Bullard - Athena
Publishing Company, North Kansas City l975 (out of print)
Autobiography
of a Dollmaker by Helen Bullard - Hobby House Press, Cumberland,
MD l984 -Helen
Bullard Story plus a chapter The NIADA Story (out of print)
Dorothy
Heizer, The Artist and Her Dolls by Helen Bullard - NIADA
and Helen Bullard Krechniak, l972 (out of print)
Bullard,
prolific author and energetic, doll artist, wood carver
and nature gardener was born in Elgin, Illinois. She moved
to Cumberland, County, TN, in the early 1930s with her
author husband, Joseph Marshall Krechniak. The southeastern
United States was an area already rich with fine art and
craft tradition. In 1949, Bullard originated a type of
hand-carved wood figure called "Holly Dolls" and hand-carved
wooden tops known as "The Spinnin' Fools," both part of
a revival of American craft and culture of the Appalachian
Region.
When
a book is out of print, it often may be found on a secondary
market, the Internet or for sale at a doll show.
The
Art of the Doll - Published by NIADA in l992 -- contains
articles and photos of Active NIADA Members in l992 plus
a section at the back with short vignettes and black and
white photos of earlier artists. (This book is still available
by accessing a form on
this web site)
Many
other NIADA artists have written wonderful books and produced
excellent videos about their work. Use the Contact
List and Videos
and Books on this web site to find these sources.
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