An Italian Epiphany...

Don't you just love waking up in the morning with one of those "duh" moments.  This was one of those mornings as I was thinking about what to write for the IADR blog when it came to me.

I was privileged to be invited by Anna Esposito to her  home and to visit the site of Pompeii.  To see the amazing frescos of the city is truly a once in a life time experience.  But also a reminder.  The destruction of Pompeii is similar to what is happening in our world today.  Whether it is war, political upheaval, or a natural disaster like the volcanoes in Iceland, Central American, and even Alaska, all these actions are causing us to change.

What are those changes?  It is hard to say as we are in the middle of experiencing those changes now.  Did you know that Naples existed at the time of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD, though luckily they did not receive the devastation of Pompeii?  Naples helps today to shine the light on Pompeii's history.  It is at Pompeii that we can see the amazing art, walk the stone roads, and just get a glimpse into an age that no longer exists.  How we have changed but also how we have remain the same too?

​I was reminded of some of the "sameness" as I walked along an ancient Roman roadway in Naples called Christmas Alley (Via San Gregorio Armeno).  It was there that I discovered that the way I structure my porcelain dolls is the same way many of the specialty figures are still made in Naples.  What are these figures used for?  They are used in the building of presepe or in English- Nativity creche. 

I was simply blown away when I saw these many displays.  Plus anything (small or large) that was created for them.  From animated figurines - to small bowls of fruit like you can see in the video.  These displays are not just about Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. They’re elaborate scenes that depict a whole village and are quite unique from your average manger.  You’ll also find modern politicians and celebrities right along side biblical characters.  Plus, they are worked on throughout the whole year.

So what was my Italian epiphany?  That there will always be a doll market.  Dolls (figurines) express our view of the world, our spiritually, and captures those day-to-day moments in time.  Just like the artwork in Pompeii showed us, dolls help with the healing.  They give us hope in our ever changing world.  We may need to adapt and evolve to reach a new market, but dolls are timeless.  I am reminded of a quote from "The StoryTeller" by Jim Henson... 'They are a luxury.  Therefore a necessity.'  Meaning - that once someone experiences a luxury, it can become so deeply ingrained in their life and habits that they begin to perceive it as essential, or a "necessity".  Such is a doll!

​

​Let's also welcome June Welton to the IADR family.  She does amazing Fiber Art dolls and characters.  She from the USA and has a great sense of humor from what I have seen in a few of her posts of Facebook.  

​Reminder that our Shylock Doll Gathering is today.