marie mason

Marie Mason is well known in this part of the country for her paintings of dogs, jazz musicians and assorted other lovelies. She is a down to earth, no nonsense, gentle and funny woman who loves to work in her garden and in her studio (in beautiful Weston, Missouri). She is a dog/cat lover and supporter extraordinaire. I recently commissioned her to paint a portrait of Sam, our almost-17-year old Bichon. It's a wonderful piece!



Marie's doll will be part of the live auction. This is what she wrote about her:

"When I picked up my doll, brought her home and took a look at her, I was truly amazed at her beauty. Some child in another country created a lovely lady out of leaves…this figure was grand without any embellishment! What kind of improvement could be made?

I brought her up to my studio and she just lingered on my drawing table for days! I first envisioned her housed in some kind of porch setting with a soft cloth covering above her so that she would be protected from the elements. I thought of cloth wings, grass fields, and finally just a beautiful day. I wanted to create this beautiful day for her to exist in. Warm, but not hot, with a soft wind blowing and a few clouds for shade. A cloth cloud came to mind, but how would that work over time…. Then I came up with the cloud cape idea.

Last summer a friend’s 10-year-old granddaughter visited my studio. Together we got seriously involved in making paper mache animals. I learned a lot about the new materials that are available…. and so I decided to create a cloud cape and a bonnet to protect this lovely doll from the vicissitudes of a hot or stormy day. She would wear the clouds as a kind of armor and protection from the elements. Even though her feet are on the ground, she will always be protected with her cloud cape and sun hat.

I hope that this doll figure will carry a wish to the orphaned children so far away. May imaginary capes of clouds and bonnets of sun be some kind of protection from hardships."

jane voorhees

One of the best things about Change the Truth is that it has introduced me to so many wonderful new friends. Jane Voorhees is one of them. I had never met her when we began discussing the possibility of traveling together to Uganda in 2007. She became a member of my very first team. What a unique, quick and fabulous way to get to know someone! We shared tears and laughter right out of the starting gate.



Jane has been an unwavering friend to these children... she has been since the minute she got her first big hugs from the children upon our arrival at the orphanage. "Mama Jane" is a special woman in so many ways. I've always loved her artwork and was so happy when she chose to incorporate her use of painted boxes in this year's doll. This beautiful piece will be part of the live auction Friday night.

Jane has this to say about her experience at SMK and with Change the Truth.

"I was fortunate to have traveled to Uganda with Gloria (Team One) to teach art at SMK. This was a life changing experience for me. The children were so lovely, so appreciative of everything, expecting so little in life. At this time they often were not getting three meals a day. Gloria has changed this. This land was as red as the sky in my painted landscapes, and it was so dark at night due to very few lights on the roads. Often packed into huts, going about their lives were the people of Uganda - attempting to escape civil war and AIDS. CTT has made a bold change in the lives of the African children at SMK. Education can certainly be the cure for them."

little paintings + beads = beautiful jewelry

Not everyone can afford to buy one of the original paintings by Oscar, Willy, Isabella, Nicky, Ivan and the other talented young artists whose work will be on display Friday night.

Here is an awesome alternative, one you can even wear!

Blue Infinity Designs has shrunk scans of the artwork down to teeny tiny versions of themselves. The resulting little squares are mounted onto scrabble-esque wooden tiles and covered with a thick protective coating. A bail, a cord, some colorful glass and silver beads and voila! You've got very cool wearable art by the children from St. Mary Kevin Orphanage.

These pieces will make their debut on Friday night. Look for a special table, staffed by high school volunteers, near the Kajjansi Marketplace. The girls will help you select just the right piece from the collection of necklaces and bracelets. This is the first time we've ever offered these; I had no idea how many to order. We may run out! If so, orders can be placed.

Bracelets and necklaces that have beads are $28.00 each.

Necklaces that consist only of a cord and a tile are $15.00 each. Extra tiles are $12.00.

leslie mark

There is little I can add to Leslie's description of her doll and the inspiration behind it, except to say that she has been a loyal friend to Change the Truth (from the very beginning). This doll is magnificent. It's poignant and powerful and has oh so much to say about our connection to the children in Uganda... and, in fact, about the children themselves.

The tags that hang from the branches each contain a few lines from the psalm. They are strung with thread, and when the air moves around the doll, they dance a bit. Leslie's is a very hopeful and uplifting piece. It is 46" high, winning the award for tallest doll! It will be included in the live auction Friday night. It currently has a bid of $100.

“I was very moved recently by a radio conversation between Krista Tippett (author of ‘Speaking of Faith’) and Bobby McFerrin. His rephrased translation and musical interpretation of the 23rd Psalm was uplifting. I immediately thought about the children at St. Mary Kevin, strong in their faith, even as their lives have been remade by war, disease and loss of parents.



There is a Jewish saying, ‘Torah is the tree of life to those who embrace it,’ which imagery has always tickled my imagination. And McFerrin’s swapping out of pronouns in his interpretation of the 23rd Psalm tugged at me, perhaps more since my mother passed away. Thus my banana doll is elevated in the beautiful river birch branches, surrounded by flowers and little ‘pearls of wisdom,’ dancing with McFerrin’s music around her, lifted up by the spirit of the psalm.

May we all be so nurtured, loved and inspired.


The 23rd Psalm
interpreted by Bobby McFerrin – ‘Dedicated to my Mother’

The Lord is my shepherd, I have all I need,
She makes me lie down in green meadows,
Beside the still waters, She will lead

She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs,
She leads me in a path of good things,
And fills my heart with songs.

Even though I walk, through a dark and dreary land,
There is nothing that can shake me,
She has said she won’t forsake me, I’m in her hand.

She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes
She anoints my head with oil, And my cup overflows.

Surely, surely goodness and kindness will follow me,
All the days of my life, And I will live in her house,
Forever, forever and ever.

Glory be to our Mother, and Daughter,
And to the Holy of Holies,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World, without end. Amen.”

tabbetha mccale evans

"I have lived in Kansas City most my life and have been constructing textiles from a young age. I learned to knit, sew, crochet and embroider from my mom and grandma. As a kid, I was always making something for my self or my dolls. I used to create whole environments for my dolls sewing furniture from fabric, making tables from discarded blocks of wood even making small paper books and notebooks.



The love of creating continued and led me to the Kansas City Art Institute and the fiber department. In college, I started a series of fetish dolls. I worked on these for a couple of years, but abandoned them for other kinds of projects. When I found out about the CTT fundraiser, I was excited for two reasons: First, to help such a wonderful cause, second, a chance to get back to making dolls.

I have been lucky enough to work for a few great Kansas City textile havens. I worked for years at Cy Rudnick’s fabrics, then after college worked at Asiatica. Currently I design full time for Peruvian Connection where I have worked for about 17 years, a job that allows me to travel the world and feed my loved of ethnographic textiles." - Tabbetha

Tabbetha is new to the Doll Project this year. She is another artist I have had the privilege of meeting for the first time. Philomene Bennett recommended that I get in touch with Tabbetha, and I'm very glad I did. Isn't this a lovely doll?

DON'T FORGET!! BIDDING ON THE DOLLS HAS BEGUN. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE EVENT ON THE 24TH AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A STAND-IN BIDDER WORK ON YOUR BEHALF, GO TO THIS WEBSITE TO FIND OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN!

Tabbetha's doll has a current bid of $75.

young doll artist in the news!

This wonderful article appeared in the Columbia Daily Tribune yesterday. Yay, Isaac!!

peggy noland

Peggy Noland began her academic career studying religious studies at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, but soon changed her mind to pursue a decidedly different discipline: fashion.

For the last four years, the self-taught designer has sold her avant-garde but playful line of clothing in her boutique, located in the heart of Kansas City's Crossroads art district. Her store's environment is worth the trip alone, as visitors will find themselves engulfed in a giant cheeseburger, on a bed of poly-fill clouds or amidst giant green hands with hot pink fingernails (depending on current installation). She is recognized as a leader in Kansas City's creative community. The Pitch awarded Peggy a Mastermind Award in 2006. She's a recipient of a Lighton International Artist Exchange Program Grant and the Warhol Foundation's Rocket Grant.



Peggy is consistently costuming collaboratively with Kansas City's own, SSION and Whoop Dee Doo, both headed by KCAI alumni. Although she is a fixture in KC’s art scene, her clothing is also nationally recognized. Publications including The New York Times, Spin, Rolling Stone, Nylon, Missbehave, Lucky and XLR8R and international publications like Japanese Elle, British Elle, WWD, WGSN and Dazed and Confused have featured her pieces. In September 2010, she showed her latest collection during New York Fashion Week and exhibited at New York's The Hole gallery.

Peggy maintains her largest clientele via her website and dresses a number of musicians including Beth Ditto of the Gossip, Fischerspooner, Peaches, CSS and Tilly and the Wall.

Currently, Peggy is collaborating with Keds Shoes creating a “Peggy Noland for Keds” shoe collection.

She fluffed up her doll’s dress and put a lovely sequined bow on her head. Simple, but elegant!

my doll(s)

My doll is named for Rosette, the 17-year-old young woman at the orphanage who makes so many of our dolls and who also takes the time to teach CTT volunteers how to make them. I first met Rosette in 2006. She caught my eye when the St. Mary Kevin choir was singing songs for me one day. She was very expressive, had a brilliant smile and could dance like there was no tomorrow.

When I returned to the orphanage in 2007, Rosette slipped me a note asking me to please consider her for a Change the Truth sponsorship. We subsequently spent a lot of time talking about her past and her hopes for the future.

I get to know Rosette better and better each year I return to Uganda. CTT has been sponsoring her for three years; she's a hard working student, doing her best to succeed. She's had a difficult life (her mother died of AIDS, and her father was killed in the civil war) but she is determined to make the best of her situation. I admire and adore this young woman.



Rosette makes a tremendous impression on each and every CTT team member. She goes out of her way to make us feel welcome and "at home" in Uganda. She works tirelessly assisting us with our projects. Rosette's heart is huge, and her talents are mind boggling: she's become an expert yogi, she's a "Broadway talented" singer and dancer, and she's a superior athlete.

Rosette usually wears a stocking cap; Jennifer Donze, a knitter from Wisconsin, made the hat for my doll. Rosette also often wears a scarf. I tried to dress my doll in accordance with Rosette's style.

The second doll I'm featuring in this post is my 9-month-old grandson Henry, who happens to be visiting this week. I made this picture of him in my studio.



Can you tell we had fun in there?

peregrine honig

Peregrine Honig made a name for herself when a set of her prints were purchased by the Whitney Museum of American Art, establishing her as the youngest living artist to be included in the permanent collection. Honig’s sculptures, imagery and texts explore themes of sexual vulnerability, trends in disease and social hierarchies. She currently curates projects and annual events under the umbrella “Fahrenheit” and owns a lingerie boutique “Birdies”. Her work is part of the permanent collections of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, the National Museum of Women in the Arts and The Chicago Art Institute, among others. Peregrine is a recipient of the Art Omi International Artists’ Residency and the Charlotte Street Fund. She recently produced a magazine titled Widow, in collaboration with Landfall Press, that explores the relationship between fashion and art.



Last year, Peregrine starred in the first season of "The Next Great Artist" on the Bravo channel. Much to the delight of Kansas Citians, she came in second place!

Peregrine always pushes the envelope with her work. Last year, her doll fetched one of the highest prices in the live auction, and I've no doubt collectors will be just as interested and intrigued with this year's contribution to the Doll Project. She wrote the following about her doll:

"Specimen

When we spend energy preserving something, we often ignore what is developing. I burned my doll down, captured the ashes and fibers in a Pyrex test tube, and sealed the cork with beeswax. I cremated the banana leaves and encapsulated the moment of one child’s skill at creating something traditional."

**Team 4 member Emily Collins designed and made the pillow upon which Peregrine's piece sits.

brian

Brian is 15 years old and a Change The Truth sponsored student currently attending Senior 1 at Kajjansi Progressive Senior Secondary School. Brian came to SMK in 2008 during his Primary 5 year with his father and 4 brothers (all very talented artists). His father was the security guard at SMK and then one day took a job somewhere else. Brian hasn’t seen or talked to his father in two years. His mother died of cancer years ago.

Brian aspires to become a doctor, astronaut or artist. He loves being in the art room. Brian is completely focused while there, happily losing himself in the creative process. When he finishes a piece, he checks every detail for mistakes. He thinks about whether it will make other people happy and may even ask other people their opinion of his painting. If there are no mistakes, he feels really good inside. He does not like to showcase a painting unless he feels it is perfect. Brian’s inspiration is Leonardo Di Vinci.

Brian is one of the sweetest and most gentle boys I know. His artistic and musical talents are impressive, and he's a really good student to boot. I've always liked Brian's calm demeanor, and I truly admire the determination with which he embraces his life.

Several of his paintings are included in the exhibition at Leedy-Voulkos and will be for sale in the silent auction. Here are four of them.

soundz of afrika

Entertaining the troops at the June 24th fundraiser will be Soundz of Afrika, a delightful and talented group of young dancers and drummers directed by Bird Fleming. The children are so much fun to watch; I know you'll love them! They will be performing around 7:15 for ten minutes and then again at 7:50.

auction of some pretty cool items

There is a lot of excitement in the home office of Change the Truth these days. (Did you know the office is also my kitchen?)

For the past few weeks, I've been working overtime trying to get everything in order for the 4th Annual CTT Friendraiser/Fundraiser.

New to the event this year will be a silent auction of items donated by Kansas City merchants. There will be close to 50 items up for grabs. I'm really happy with what we've put together, especially since it has been our first foray into this aspect of fundraising.

Let me whet your appetite a bit:

a Nikon Coolpix digital camera from Cricks (value $349)

a gorgeous pearl broach from Tom Tivol (value $395)

one hour massage from Hollyday (value $75)

bagels for a year from Panera's (value $175)

dinner for two at Grand Street Cafe (value $75)

haircut and moisturizing treatment by a senior stylist at Bijin (value $82)

a premier facial from Carpe Diem (value $90)

four tickets to a Royal game, first row behind the Crown seats (value $210)

pilates classes at Personal Best (value $180)

Ladies Night of shopping at J. Hathaway's Shoes (value $350)

one summer camp session at Young Audiences (value $200)

two tickets to "August Osage County" at the Missouri Rep (value $120)

The event on June 24th is free and open to the public; there is no charge to bid on these great items and more. Come join us from 7 - 10 PM at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, 2012 Baltimore in the crossroads district of KC.

Stay tuned for more updates on what will be happening that night!

josh and mark eisemann

Josh and his family have been enthusiastic about Change the Truth since its inception in early 2007. In fact, Josh has been a pen pal to Nicky, one of the boys at the orphanage, ever since then. Both boys like to play soccer and draw, so they’ve been a good match. One of these days, I hope Josh and Nicky can meet.



Josh invited his father Mark to help him with his doll. The two had great fun working on the project,; Mark wrote the following about the experience:

“THE HUG

Josh was excited about creating a doll, but the challenge of coming up with an idea and executing it was a little daunting. We sat down and had a brain storming session. We went through many ideas. One seemed to fit – a doll with large hands reaching out to give a hug. Josh is a big hugger, with a well-earned reputation in our family and at school and his summer camp. In talking about Change the Truth, Josh and I imagined that hugs are an essential part of the program’s success. The beauty of the hug is that it can be reciprocal – as easily given by a child as by a volunteer or teacher. Josh’s grandmother, Bette Mark, was a quilter and we have many remnants waiting to be put to good use. Josh chose a color palette of green, blue and orange, and sifted through a number of samples before settling on the ones we used. The body is painted blue, so that it is not associated with any race. Executing the idea was more difficult than we thought. It took some time, and some sewing help from Leslie Mark, Josh’s mother, to create the hands. We hoped to drape the material used to cover the base in a wavy, flowing and casual manner, but settled on the solution seen. Working on our doll definitely made Josh and me appreciate the professional artists in the show.”

leah sosland

Leah has been a friend to Change the Truth for a couple years now. She first became interested when her mom brought her to one of our fundraisers. Leah decided early on that she would like to go to the orphanage to volunteer, and I know one of these days she will. I've kind of watched this red haired wonder grow up; she lives on my block. What a poised, articulate, thoughtful and lovely young woman she is becoming.



Leah was excited to participate in the Doll Project this year. She wrote this about her creation:

"Hi, my name is Leah and I decorated a doll for the Change the Truth Foundation. My doll is a piano teacher. I really wanted to incorporate piano because I have been playing since I was five and think music is a very important thing to have in your life. I was really excited to decorate the doll and made her hair from yarn and put it in a little bun. I glued on American Girl doll glasses that I found and had her wearing a shawl made from beads (the beads were originally going to be a skirt, but that ended up being way too difficult to make). I hope people enjoy the doll because I worked hard on it and had a lot of fun doing it."

sonie joi ruffin

Sonié Joi Ruffin is an award winning fabric artist, born, raised and educated in the Midwest. She has led workshops and lectures on African American quilting at the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, the Nerman Museum, Kansas City Museum, Flint Public Library, Kansas City Public Library, and a host of quilt guilds across the United States. Her art quilts have been exhibited at the Kansas Master’s, International Quilt Market, New England Quilt Museum, Leedy Voulkos Art Center and the American Jazz Museum.

Sonié’s art quilts can be found in the collections of galleries, museums, private and corporate collections such as Portfolio Gallery, the Spencer Museum, Sprint, the Hazley Insurance Corporation and Truman Medical Center. Her fabric collections “My African Village and Drums of Africa” have appeared in McCall’s, Better Homes and Gardens Quilting and Quilter’s Quarters magazines. She was the recipient of the Charlotte Street Visual Arts Award in 2010.




Sonie has designed two fabric collections for Andover fabrics, she is the author of “Soulful Art of African American Quilts and Opening Day” published by Kansas City Star quilt book division and is working on her next quilt book project “My Mother’s Club” with Rodney Thompson. Sonié is presently the Visiting Curator for the American Jazz Museum, located in the historical 18th and Vine jazz district.

Sonie wrote the following about her doll. All I have to say is "wow".

“Miss Ruth

I grew up during a time when aprons where an integral part of a woman’s wardrobe. All the women I knew wore these wonderful decorative items; some were trimmed in lace, rick rack, ruffles and piping. The fabric used to create these magical masterpieces ranged from the basic unbleached muslin, floral print, dupioni silk, to a sheer organdy. Then there were the aprons that were saved for Saturdays and Sundays, which were just as fabulous as the ones worn during the weekdays.

Aprons were used for everything from holding fresh picked green beans, pulling hot baked peach cobblers from the oven, to having the jingle of some change in the pocket that was given to children to purchase penny candy!

For those of you that remember the first sewing project in Home-Ec it was an apron, remember? I will never forget my apron project. I was 12 years young. It was red and white gingham with gathered lace around the pocket, a black and white polka dot waist band with yellow rick rack attached on the front of the waistband and a large floral pocket with bright green rick rack trim on the front, yes I guess you can say, it was a little loud! I gave it to my mom as a Mother’s Day gift; she wore it with pride that day, and tucked it away to wear every Mother’s day there after. I still have it and pull it out from time to time when I miss her; it reminds me of how blessed I was to have her in my life.

Oh, it is worn now, tattered and soiled with the odors of life from my mother’s kitchen, mixed with the fragrance of her perfume; the memories are far too many to talk about. As I looked it over, I noticed that mom had sewn pieces of fabric covering a few holes of wear and usage through the years, trying to save this tattered masterpiece. She turned it into a form all its own; it became the inspiration for my doll 'Miss Ruth' and her apron.

Now when I look back, on the days of aprons and pinafores, the women that wore them and the memories they have ensued, the women who wore those aprons become a form of love, comfort, strength and protection for me. They set their sights high and reached their goals; they expected the same if not more out of the children they help raise; they are the reason why dreams have come true for many children from my village.

It is my prayer that the apron of love that 'Miss Ruth' is wearing protects the children of St. Mary Kevin in Kajjansi, Uganda, for you see they are no different than any other children in the world.

When I chose the doll that Gloria brought back from the orphanage, it dawned on me that I was touching the hands of the child that created my doll; our souls touched for a minute, and it humbled me. I am grateful for these children and what they have taught me.

These children used what they had to create these dolls for us to adorn, as did the women that wore those fabulous aprons that raised us, they used what they had and together they were a mighty force in the lives of the children they touched.

To work in concert with one so young is an honor, thank you very much; it is my hope that they are pleased with the design and that the apron of love protects, comforts and guides them with the strength to make their dreams come true."

tom corbin

Tom Corbin is an amazing person and artist. He's kind and unassuming, and his work just happens to be in some mighty fine collections all across the country, including those of Alec Baldwin, Jack Nicholson, Carol Burnett, Emeril Lagasse, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and more. Talk about star studded!

Tom's sculptures extol the human condition, most often through the female form – her mood, grace and vitality. His furniture designs combine sculpturally driven organic forms with the functional sensibilities of architecture.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1954, Tom’s early fascination in art was inspired by his mother, an art teacher by trade. Despite studying painting and drawing at Miami University, his original career pursuit was in business as an advertising executive. He was well on his way to a successful career in advertising when a chance meeting with a bronze sculptor encouraged him to take a sculpting class. There, the hook was set.

By 1986, Tom put away his suit and tie for good in lieu of life as a sculptor. Through his persistence and good fortune, he was awarded a series of commissions that gave him the exposure and income to pursue his dream.



Today, Tom and his staff can be found working in his Kansas City studio on a host of compelling projects – from a 20’ monument destined for Washington, D.C., to a massive custom coffee table for a collector in New York. During an average year, he will produce over 20 new sculpture and furniture designs to satisfy the demand from his galleries and showrooms.

I am so honored that, for the second year in a row, Tom has agreed to take part in the Doll Project. Here is what he wrote about his doll:

"The focus of my doll's styling centers on a mask inspired by a Yoruba twin carving I saw in one of my African art books. The colors are a derivative of many African flags. I originally modeled my mask in clay from which a mold was made. A plaster casting was produced from the mold and subsequently painted. The interior of the mask is signed by me and is one of a kind."

shane evans

In the business of illustration, design and creative development, Shane Evans is a multi-talented artist and visionary who combines his world travels with his art to influence creative expression in others. Evans studied at Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts and graduated in 1993. He then began traveling the world. In addition to contract work in illustration, graphic design and web design for major companies, Evans has conceptualized and illustrated numerous children’s books. His books have been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, NBA Inside Stuff, Reading Rainbow and Letterman.

Shane has received much acclaim in the children’s literary field for his work on books such as "Osceola," "The Way The Door Closes," "Shaq and the Beanstalk" and "Take It To The Hoop Magic Johnson." His accolades include being honored by Laura Bush at the 2002 National Book Festival, receiving The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction for Children.



Shane’s talent does not stop at illustration. His design work includes unique, one-of-a-kind hand crafted furniture, clothing, CD cover art, photography and a number of other custom made items. He’s also a musician.

This is what Shane wrote to accompany his doll:

“Freedom Journey-

Freedom cannot be measured in miles.
Freedom is a spirit… it is light it is in the heart.
Freedom is a walk, a skip a run, a jump a movement.
Freedom is the growth of light colored leaves joining in the rhythm of the sun to showcase a direction.
Freedom is living with the earth not against. Holding nothing back and healing that which is broken.
Freedom is a case of wonder that leads you to a GOD… open.
Freedom is a creative spirit that will launch you into universes known but not plotted.
Freedom is the soul rhythm of your heart pulsing for life.”

philomene bennett

Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Philomene Bennett received a BFA from the University of Nebraska. Her paintings, ceramics and prints have been included in over 100 solo and group exhibitions throughout the US since she graduated in 1956. She was invited to show her work in the inaugural exhibition at the National Museum of Women in Arts in Washington, DC.



Philomene has done countless commissions. She is a lecturer and keynote speaker. Her work is in many well-known collections throughout the country. She’s been nominated three times for the ‘National Artists Award.’ And at age 76, she shows no signs of slowing down, still making great work in the basement studio of the home she shares with husband and fellow painter, Lou Marak.

Last year Philomene’s doll was a big hit; there were several bidders who really wanted to take it home! I have no doubt that this year’s creation, “Tina” will garner the same amount of interest. The fact that she is a music box makes her very special.

Philomene wrote this about her doll:

“The creative process is amazing. I had no idea what to do with the doll, but had acquired this beautiful black lace in Santa Fe when a designer was having a remnant sale. The music box was the last thing I found in my collection of ‘stuff’. So… here is Tina with ‘You Light Up My Life’.”

nicole emanuel

Nicole Emanuel is a painter, mother of two, writer and arts organizer. She is the 2011 ArtsKC Awards featured artist/awards designer and a 2009 ArtsKC Inspiration Grant recipient.

A first-generation American, born in 1961 to a South African father and French mother, Nicole lived in and around New York City until 1980. From 1980-82, she studied Philosophy and Psychology at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, until she accidentally moved to San Francisco for 9 years while on a 2-week vacation. San Francisco was home, from 1982 to 1990, where she married Luke McGlynn. They have also lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Kansas City area, where they are raising their two children, Molly and Owen.



Read what Nicole has to say about her doll:

"Here is is how I see it: the Earth is the woman and we are ALL the children, so we are ONE family. I would not let my brothers and sisters suffer.

'On Children'

by Sweet Honey in the Rock

Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but they are not from you and though they are with you
They belong not to you
You can give them your love but not your thoughts
They have their own thoughts
You can house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in a place of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit not even in your dreams
You can strive to be like them
But you cannot make them just like you
Strive to be like them
But you cannot make them just like you


From 'The Great Curve' by the Talking Heads

The world moves on a womans hips
The world moves and it bounces and hops
A world of light...she's gonna open our eyes up
She's gonna hold/it move/it hold it/move it hold/it move it hold/it move it
A world of light...she's gonna open our eyes up"

caroline shteamer bockelman

“My mom, Paula Shteamer and I feel privileged to be a part of this project for the second year in a row, and we are humbled by all of the beautiful dolls made by our fellow artists.

Working as an elementary art teacher for the Shawnee Mission School District, I am so fortunate to have a career that allows me to share my love of art and Art History with such animated and enthusiastic students. My doll, ‘Sunny’ is my interpretation of the great effect weather can have on them. Each day, no matter if it’s stormy, sunny, cloudy or windy, the weather works its magic and changes their energy. Fortunately, this energy, plus their fantastic imaginations are the perfect recipe for brilliant art.

With ‘Sunny’, I tried to capture their energetic emotions, and my hope is that she brings a little sunshine and energy into your life as well!”


Caroline with her family

paula shteamer

I’ve known Paula, an interior designer, for a long time. She’s a creative and kind person, with a true understanding of what it means to help others. She’s always been an enthusiastic and energetic supporter of Change the Truth, and I am grateful to her for the joyous way she approaches each project we undertake. She shows up at my doorstep each December with art supplies and games for me to take to the orphanage. She works as a volunteer at our fundraiser each year. She always has great ideas and suggestions for what we might try next or new people who might be interested in learning about us. She has introduced me to several artists who have hopped on board the Doll Project. Once she even went to the trouble of nominating me for a CNN hero award. Now that’s one very nice and supportive friend!

Paula is someone who truly treasures family. You’ll see what I mean when you read what she wrote about her doll, "Shirley Albert” :

“I am delighted to be involved in the second Change the Truth Doll Project. Once again, as was the case last year, the emotions I felt when I looked at my beautiful banana fiber doll, created with pride and love by one of the special children at St. Mary Kevin's, knew no bounds. Just like before, I was at once humbled and inspired. Once again I asked myself how I could possibly improve upon this amazing creation. I stared at her until I found my muse, finally adorning her only with embellishments I felt deserving of her. Two of my favorites of these include the handmade Japanese paper decorating the base (one-half of the proceeds of my purchase will go to earthquake victims in Japan), and the lovely hand-dyed ribbons which have been recycled from old parachute materials. I found it comforting and fitting that these materials, had a meaning in and of themselves, and were therefore perfect for adorning my doll, ‘Shirley Albert’. She has come full-circle in so many regards.



‘Shirley Albert’ is dedicated to my amazing and sweet father, Sherwood Michael, who passed away on February 18, 2011, at the blessed age of 90. My Dad had felt very privileged to attend the very first CTT Fundraiser at The Screenland Theater, and he remained a proud supporter of Change the Truth until his death. He would have loved that my daughter, Caroline Shteamer Bockelman and I are both participating in the CTT Doll Project for the second year. Our continued involvement would have made my father very proud. He will indeed be here in spirit at this year's event. I know he will be smiling proudly as 'Shirley Albert' and Caroline's doll take their places in this year's line-up of loving creations.”

amy meya

Amy fell in love with clay during her first introduction to it in kindergarten, when she made a hilltop tree holding a nest containing several tiny eggs. Taking every art course available while in high school, she moved to Europe for five years before returning to her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, where she has taken several clay courses and volunteered for the non-profit KC Clay Guild.



As a ceramic artist, tiles have been the focal point of Amy’s work. She is always expanding her ideas for textures, patterns and subject matter. Her amazing doll last year was one that was hard for me to let go of. Fortunately, a friend of mine bought it, so I get to see it pretty regularly!

This year’s doll is just as magical. With it, Amy manages to take me back to my own childhood memories of imagining myself “queen of the land.”

Amy wrote this about her doll:

“When I approached the doll project this year I decided to take into consideration the personality of the child who made the doll. Of course I have never met him or her, so I don't really have any actual information, but it is always fun to imagine.

So, the girl who made this doll is about ten years old and has a vivid imagination. She loves to run through open fields with her arms outstretched pretending to fly. The hills and valleys where she lives are always bright green, like the first grass in the spring. She also likes to collect rocks and fossils and pretend she is a paleontologist who has discovered new forms of ancient life. Of course she names them all.

Her favorite imaginary game is to pretend she is queen of the land. She is a nice queen and very fair with her subjects, and in return they all love her and bring her gifts of fine food and jewels.”

lynne hodgman

Lynne Hodgman is new to the Doll Project this year. She jumped right in by asking me for items that would be particularly relevant to the child who made the doll in the first place. Her interest in the written word lead me to gather some letters I had received from the children at the orphanage. She happily left my house with the doll, some tie-dyed fabric the kids had made and those letters. I was thrilled to see what she had come up with when she delivered the finished doll a few weeks later.

Lynne wrote this about her work:

“I have to make things. Every day. A meal, a knitted garment, a painting. I am compelled to transform materials. To change things. To make one thing into another!

I learned to sew soon after I learned to write. For me, stitching and writing arise from the same mysterious source. I use stitches and invented language symbols as parallel abstract forms.

I use a variety of materials. I often explore without a specific destination or configuration in mind. The process is primary; the result is evidence of the particular materials being transformed by the chosen processes.

My work thus tells stories of its own composition: marks on paper, knitting, sewing, weaving, tying, knotting, folding, molding, shaping, layering, attaching, cutting, puncturing, altering and amending. This activity is universal and cross-cultural. It comes to me unbidden; you give it meaning with your looking.”



And she wrote this about her lovely and thought-provoking doll:

“My doll’s name is Frieda Gloria. She is grounded in gratitude. She wears a skirt made of slices of letters written by the students to their sponsor. Her shirt is made of fabric tie dyed by the children. I crocheted her socks and gloves and market basket. She stands in a ceramic pot I made many years ago; it was waiting for Frieda to appear. The ‘grass’ in the pot is also made of the students’ letters, as is the grass around it. The basket is also overflowing with pieces of letters. The letters were heart‐felt and individual; now they are also universal.

I designed a matching adult jacket to be simple and one‐size‐fits‐all. It will be for sale the night of the event.”

shea gordon

GREENIE

“Playing with dolls was never really my thing, but I loved playing ‘Monopoly’, the game that ingrained in us from our early childhoods to be competitive and capitalistic about property. The aim of the game was to acquire as many green houses and red hotels on your properties as possible. When I was young we didn’t think about the ‘environment’ or our responsibilities as stewards of the planet.

Fast forward to our current environmental crises. The ‘Greenhouse Effect’ has become part of our lexicon. The general population is gradually becoming cognizant of the need to partner with the earth.

‘Greenie’, the green house doll, combines two childhood icons to convey a message for the young and old alike. Each of us needs to ‘play’ a part in protecting our world.”



Shea Gordon is one of Kansas City’s true treasures. Her contributions to the art world here are immeasurable and profound. She has started conversations that have made us all better informed and more thoughtful people. I am so happy she is part of the Doll Project again this year. Last year, her Dead Sea doll was selected for the live auction and brought in a very tidy sum for the children at the orphanage. Shea was one of the first friends I made when I moved to Kansas City thirty years ago. Our friendship has been a treasure for me!

joline el-hai and dave lefebvre

Dave welded the armature for the lamp. Joline did the rest. This talented duo is from Seattle. Joline's Bella Luz Studio produces such wonderful work. I know you'll enjoy taking a look at her website.

The materials used to make this striking piece include: iron, scraps from nightlight production, beads, antique sequins, fabric and chicken wishbone. It comes with a 15-watt bulb and electric cord.



Joline, who I have never met but sure hope to some day, wrote the following:

"In a skirt of light this doll travels. As I fashioned the skirt, made of strips of studio remnants, I was thinking of the strip cloth that I encountered in my travels through west Africa. A wishbone around her neck to carry her hopes and to bring luck and good fortune. From a pot of chicken soup made with care and love, the prized wish bone is unhidden and becomes an amulet for the doll gliding on light."

paul mesner puppets

This dollrageous creation (yes, I just made up a new word) is non other than the one and only Lady Gaga - emerging from her egg, which just so happens to light up. She is by far our tallest and most glamorous doll, and I'm sure she has bigger hair than any actual person you've ever known. You've got to see her to believe her!

Gaga was birthed by the imaginative artists at Paul Mesner Puppets. Pictured here are Gabby (who dreamt her up and made her happen) and the venerable Mr. Mesner himself.



Paul Mesner Puppets, founded by Paul Mesner in 1987, has grown to be a collective of artists who collaborate to create their own puppets and puppet shows. The company inventively recreates stories, ancient and modern, in an authentic way and lets the audience experience what a puppet show should truly be. Productions are based on contemporary children's literature, fairy tales, folk tales, operas and original works. Every year, Paul Mesner Puppet shows are seen by 45,000 people throughout the Kansas City area and 100,000 viewers nationwide. It's an institution in my hometown of KC; hardly any kid grows up here without at least one wonderful Paul Mesner show tucked in his/her memory bank. I've even had the pleasure of attending a wedding that was officiated by Paul Mesner puppets!

Hilarious, entertaining, often outrageous and always innovative - Paul Mesner Puppets is a treasure. And I am thrilled to welcome this highly recognized and beloved Kansas City institution to the Doll Project.