2025 Convention Jury Show Theme...

I was recently asked about what is the theme for the juried show for the IADR Art Doll Convention in Florence, Italy this coming May.

The theme is Shine the Light!

I was inspired with this theme after visiting Florence for the first time last year.  When one thinks of all the many famous artists who have lived or come to Florence to learn about the Arts, the theme illuminates their collective energy.

After all, one purpose of an artist is to educate, illuminate, and inspire passion or pain.  To expand the awareness and awaken the emotion of the observer to the Art.

By definition, to Illuminate is to 'make (something) visible or bright by shining light on it'.  Art helps to clarify or explain and enlighten spiritually or intellectually.

So what types of entries would qualify for the theme?  One example is Patrizia Cozzo's Fairy with Lantern and why she was selected to represent our convention.  The IADR appreciates Patrizia sharing her art with us and inspiration.  Simply holding a light source is one way to Shine the Light.

​Another way to interpreted the theme is to shine the light on history and how it was shaped by someone that influenced you or inspired you.

Or, shine your own light and influence the world with a thought or idea that you want to illuminate - like Love or Greed for example.  These are just some of the different ways you can Shine the Light.

​The IADR juried event is open to all sculptors and makers of one-of-a-kind handmade sculpted art dolls - no matter the medium.  The Jury Show Competition will consists of two categories - Sculpted Artworks and Fiber Arts.  

Sculptured Artworks of all kinds are welcome in clay, paper-clay figurative sculpture, porcelain, polymer, or other like mediums. 

​Fiber Arts is a separate category from the other mediums entries and will include all competition entries of wool/needlefelting and cloth dolls

Each category will have five separate skill levels being Novice, Intermediate, Advance, Professional, and Master.  There will be an award opportunity for each level when meeting the competition requirement.

​The submission fee for one doll entry for the jury show is included with a convention registration otherwise a fee of 30 Euro will be charged.  

​Each person is authorized only one entry per category (Sculpted Art or Fiber Art) for the juried show competition. 

To enter a doll in the competition, it must be delivered to the registration table at the scheduled convention time and picked up after the award presentation during the Banquet Dinner.  If you have any questions please refer to the Juried Show link for the Convention at https://www.international-art-doll-registry.com/convention-juried-show-submission.html​ or email to [email protected].

The Florentine...

We are also currently in The Florentine's online classified section.  We are working with them to see about an article for the convention and their May printed edition of the newspaper.  More about that as it develops.  To see the AD click the link ​https://www.theflorentine.net/classifieds.

​Welcome back Taina Latvala to the IADR community!  You can see some of her great creations under the Registry section of the website.  I have been a big fan of her work and can't wait to see what new characters she has been creating *smiling