Chelsea Doll Maker Immortalizes Alice Cooper, Lucille Ball in New Exhibit

A unique exhibit capturing the lives of celebrities and folklore characters through the eyes of dolls will be on display at Silver Maples Retirement Community in Chelsea beginning March 5.

The exhibit, titled, “Maker Dolls: Archetypes, Celebrities, and Private Lives” by artist and doll maker Jill Andrews, will be on display through April 30.

Andrews, a longtime Chelsea resident, designs and constructs character dolls. Some are archetypes from folklore or history, some are famous personalities, and others are modeled after her friends or family.

She notes that around the world, people are beginning to shift from passive consumers to active doll makers, largely due to the wealth of "how to" information available online.

"The maker movement is fueled by curious people who create, innovate and provide value to the community," she said.

Maker dolls also build on thousands of years of history. Archaeological evidence suggests that dolls are the oldest known toy, dating back as early as 2000 BCE, according to Andrews.

"In most cultures, dolls were used as carriers of cultural heritage–icons passed down through multiple generations, who both preserved and communicated stories of the human condition," she explained.

“I think of dolls as present-day icons — unique messengers who remind us that our lives can be rich and multidimensional through making (or learning to make),” said Andrews. “Each is a caricature of a real person, and each tells a unique story."

Each of the doll's personas is carefully researched before design and construction. Each face is hand-painted, and most have been needle-sculpted. The body is crafted using organic and/or recycled fabric, and dressed with custom clothing. Many feature recycled jewelry, vintage buttons, beads, and found objects.

The exhibit is open to the public through April 30. For more information about Anderson, visit http://www.makerdolls.com, or read her blog online at http://makerdolls.blogspot.com.