Kansas City, Missouri, was the location chosen by the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA) for their annual Dollmaking School and Conference. From July 15th – 17th Master Artists taught classes on the art of doll making followed by 4 days of conference presentations, demonstrations and exhibits, and their annual Exhibition. Juliet Pelukh and Christine Shively were welcomed as new artist members.
NIADA Programs
Donna Moore – Toy Designer
Marlaine Verhelst – Twenties Fashion with Historical Reference
Shelley Thornton – Visiting Artist 10×12 Presentations
Keynote Speaker – van craig
designer, artist, sculptor and doll aficionado
About van craig
van craig was influenced by the Art Deco period at a very young age and throughout his career. With studies and background in design and the performing arts, both on and off stage, he found himself as a New York Soho Gallery artist, exploring his interpretation of the human form and developing into a creative entrepreneur. He will share how he took a combination of the above and was able to reinvent them into a viable and interesting career. He will share his journey, his encouragement, his love for the Art Doll and how he has survived and thrived for more than three decades in the heart of New York City.
van craig is honored to share
his passion
his work
his story
Mini-Master Classes
Saturday Morning Make-and-Takes with NIADA Artists
2019 Conference Schedule
Thursday July 18th
(N) 9:00–12:00pm…….NIADA Artist Meeting ………………Crystal Ballroom
(N) 12:00–1:00pm…….NIADA Artist/Patron luncheon ……….Midland Room
(N) 1:15–3:30pm……..NIADA Patron Meeting ………………Crystal Ballroom
10:00–11:00am……….Conference registration ……………Crystal Foyer
11:00–12:00pm………Jennifer Osner Antique Textiles ………Lyric Room
4:00–5:00pm………..Gallery Night setup, Helper setup*…….Crystal Ballroom
4:00–5:00pm………..Late Conference registration …………Phillips Foyer
6:00–6:30pm………..Vocalist Patricia Gould………………Mezzanine
………………….Appetizers | Pink Temperance Cocktail | Cash Bar
6:30–9:00pm………..NIADA ARTISTS GALLERY NIGHT……………Crystal Ballroom
Events are open to ALL attendees unless
noted (N) NIADA Members only
*HELP! VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!
We welcome and encourage all registrants who would like to
get involved with the Conference to pitch-in where needed.
Extra hands are always appreciated!
Friday July 19th
7:00–8:00am…………On-The-Go Boxed Breakfast………………Regency Room
9:00–12:00pm………..Photographer Lloyd Wilson………………Heartland
………………………Helper Room open…………………..Phillips Room
………………………Jennifer Osner Antique Textiles……..Lyric Room
9:00-12:00pm………….CONFERENCE PROGRAMS:………………….Phillips Room
9:00–10:00am …………Toy Designer – Donna Moore
10:00–11:00am ………..Twenties Fashion – Marlaine Verhelst
11:00–12:00pm ………..Visiting Artist 10×12 – Shelley Thornton
12:00-12:30pm ……….. TRANSPORT: Leave for Luncheon …….. Hotel Lobby
1:00–2:30pm ………….. LUNCHEON: Home of NIADA Patron Diana Rew
3:00–6:00pm ………….Photographer Lloyd Wilson ……………. Heartland
……………………………Helper Room open …………….. Phillips Room
FREE TIME: ……………Explore Kansas City Places of Interest
……………………………………….Dinner on your own
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
6:00–6:30pm ………….Pre-Keynote Dessert treats ………………. Phillips Foyer
6:30– 7:00pm …………. Intro to van craig by Dustin Poché
7:00–9:00pm ………….Keynote Speaker van craig …………….. Phillips Room
9:00–LATE ……………..Fireside Chat with van craig …………… Mezzanine
Saturday July 20th
7:00–8:00am……. Continental Breakfast …………………..Regency Room
9:00–12:00pm …….MINI-MASTER CLASSES: …………………..Regency Room
— She Bee – Leslie O’Leary
— Appropriate Shoes – Neva Waldt
— Painting Faces on Fabric – Susan Fosnot
— Posable Hand Armature – Dustin Poché
9:00-9:15am ……….RIDEKC BUS: Leave for Toy Museum …….Hotel Lobby
9:45–12:00pm …….EXCURSION: National Museum of Toys & Miniatures
9:00-1:00pm ………EXHIBIT: ‘Prohibition’ Challenge Doll …….Phillips Room
9:00–4:00pm ……..Helper Room open ………………………………..Phillips Room
9:00–5:00pm ……..EXHIBIT: Visiting Artists Critique Dolls …Phillips Room
………………………………Photographer Lloyd Wilson ………………….Heartland
………………………………Jennifer Osner Antique Textiles ……………Lyric Room
12:00–1:00pm Lunch on your own
1:30–3:30pm ………VISITING ARTISTS CRITIQUES ……………..Phillips Room
………………………………Flea Market ………………………………………..Midland Room
FREE TIME: ……….Explore Kansas City Places of Interest
6:30–7:00pm ………Pre-Banquet Cocktails (Cash Bar) …………….PS Speakeasy
7:00–10:00pm ……..BANQUET BUFFET ……………………..Regency Room
………………………………Helper drawing | Souvenir & Centerpiece presentations
Sunday July 21st
7:00–8:00am ………….On-The-Go Boxed Breakfast ………………….Regency Room
8:00-10:00am …………NIADA Artists Exhibition setup* …………..Crystal Mezzanine
NIADA ARTISTS EXHIBITION & SALE
10:00am …………………Open to NIADA Patrons ………………………..Crystal Mezzanine
11:00–4:00pm ………..Open to Attendees and Public
4:00-5:00pm ………….Tear down NIADA Artists Exhibition
(N) 6:00-8:00pm ……NIADA Officers Board Meeting ……………..Empire Room
Conference attendees can sign up for a variety of activities, including Critiques and the 10 x 12 program
Visiting Artist Critique
All Visiting Artists are welcome to register for a Visiting Artist Critique. This is a great opportunity to discuss your dollmaking goals, troubleshoot technical issues and develop your work under the guidance of NIADA Artists. Each Critique will be conducted by two NIADA Artists. The fee for each Critique is $25. You may bring a selection of dolls to be critiqued. You are welcome to suggest a NIADA Artist you would like to critique your work, and we will do our best to meet your request. If we cannot, we will assign you a NIADA Artist most relevant to your dollmaking aspirations.
If you are in the process of applying for NIADA Artist membership you must participate in Visiting Artist Critique as a component of your application process. This Critique is an opportunity to discuss what is required to become an Artist Member.
Register for a Visiting Artist Critique at the top of this page.
Critique Exhibition
All Visiting Artists registered for a Critique are invited to exhibit their dolls at the Critique Exhibition for Conference attendees to view. If you have any questions please contact the Critique Registrar .
Flea Market
The“Flea Market” is open to all conference attendees to purchase all sorts of items often at Bargain prices. You will find fabrics, trims, buttons, and unusual, hand-crafted items that will delight and get those creative juices flowing! Conference attendees can also register to sell items at the flea market, but please note the only Dolls to be on sale at the conference are by NIADA Artists.
Contact the Conference Chairs to register your interest.
Scholarships
NIADA offers two scholarships to visiting Artists to help them to attend the NIADA conference. The Helen Bullard Scholarship recipient is awarded a free Conference registration. The Susanna Oroyan Memorial Scholarship helps to cover extra expenses and/ or pay for a Dollmaking Class of the recipients choice.
Apply for a NIADA Scholarship.
Helpers
NIADA Helpers are donated dolls and doll-related items created by NIADA Artists or donated by NIADA Patrons, which will be raffled to the registrants. There will be time to peruse the items and purchase tickets during the course of each day. Occasionally new items arrive after the Helper Room has started displaying so be sure to check back often. The Helper winners will be drawn at the Saturday night banquet.
Visiting Artists 10 x 12 Program
Twelve Visiting Artists will have an opportunity to introduce their dolls to all NIADA Conference attendees in a special program in which each participant will show ten projected images of their work.
Each photo will be allotted twenty seconds for artists to add their description or commentary. If you are a Visiting Artist registering for the NIADA Conference, this is your chance to introduce your work to NIADA Artists and Patrons.
To register your interest, contact Shelley Thornton.
2019 Challenge Doll
“Prohibition Era 1920-1933”
The Hotel Phillips was the stepping-off point for selecting the ‘Prohibition Era’, 1920-1933, for our Challenge Doll. Built in 1931, it hearkens us back to a period of history in the United States, following WWI and prior to the Great Depression, when booze flowed freely, music played through the night and dance styles rapidly gained popularity. With the advent of speakeasies, owners and bartenders suddenly had a new clientele: women. Bars had always been places of community, but women had mostly been relegated to drinking at home. The social appeal of speakeasies pulled them into new and vibrant communal spaces.
Alongside the new customers came bar stools, live jazz and a new breed of cocktails geared toward a broader audience, many revived from the pre-Prohibition era: sours like the Sidecar and the Bee’s Knees, frothy drinks like the gin fizz, strong and stirred drinks like the Manhattan and the martini.
A challenge doll is an artistic exploration of how each individual interprets and represents the theme. This theme may be well defined or merely a phrase. Each participant renders their work, in this case, honoring the doll making tradition, and submits it for exhibition at the Conference. Submitted dolls should be all original designs and completely fabricated by the artist using any material.
Dolls must be no larger than 24″ in diameter and must not exceed 30″ in height.
The “Prohibition Era” Challenge dolls will be on display on Saturday in the Phillips Room. We look forward to seeing your interpretation in July!
NIADA Souvenir Doll Artists 2019
The 2019 Conference Souvenir will again be made by a variety of NIADA Artists. This year we will be doing something a little different. Several artists will be creating pins in their signature style for each banquet attendee – (and you will also receive a few other special gifts!) Additionally, ten of the souvenir artists are creating a small doll which will be gift-wrapped and placed in the center of each table. Each place setting will have a number preassigned. With a roll of a pair of gold dice, the winning number will win the centerpiece doll! The souvenir pin designs and the centerpiece doll designs will remain secret until the banquet. The contributing NIADA Artists for the 2019 Souvenir are: Jo Ellen Trilling, Chris Chomick, Susan Fosnot, Sandra Ogelsby, Joy Calhoon, Pat Lillich, Victoria Rose Martin, Ankie Daanen, Lesley Keeble, Joe MacPhale, Leslie O’Leary, Diane Keeler, Cindee Moyer and Neva Waldt. We think that you will be pleasantly surprised!
Below are a few of the souvenirs from the 2018 conference in Asilomar,CA.
Photographer: Lloyd Wilson
Our conference photographer will be available Friday and Saturday. NIADA has commissioned one photo for each NIADA artist. Conference attendees may also schedule a time to have dolls photographed. The fee is $45 per doll, paid directly to the photographer. Sign-up at the Registration Desk.
Guest Vendor: Jennifer Osner
Jennifer Osner will be returning and selling antique & vintage textiles at the conference. Jennifer has been a textile merchant since 1978. She travels nationwide acquiring and selling, antique ribbon collections, lace, and other textiles. Her customers include milliners, doll costumers, designers, movie studios, and all types of artists and crafters.
Sign up to the conference Chatline here, and receive updates regarding the conference and dollmaking school.
Events open to the public
NIADA Artists Gallery Night
Thurs. July 18th @ 7:00-9:00pm
Cocktail Hour @ 6:00pm
Hotel Phillips Crystal Ballroom
106 W 12th Street
Kansas City
Missouri, 64105
http://www.hotelphillips.com/
NIADA Artists Exhibition and Sale
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21st
Hotel Phillips Mezzanine
106 W 12th Street Ave
Kansas City
Missouri, 64105
http://www.hotelphillips.com/
Conference Venue
Hotel Phillips
106 W 12th Street,
Kansas City,
Missouri, 64105, USA
Join us in Kansas City. Registration info will be updated on January 1, 2019
The NIADA negotiated room rate for either single or double is: $179.00
To book using the NIADA room rate – click here
If you have any questions or problems regarding hotel reservations, please contact the Conference Co-Chair – Cindee Moyer or registrar Lillian Hopkins