The Craft of Dollmaking at your Library

On Thursday November 6th, children from throughout Central Michigan will get first hand experience with CMU’s Museum of Cultural and Natural History’s Beyond Barbie: Dolls, Dress and Culture in Global Perspective exhibit at the Veterans Memorial Library branch of the Chippewa River District Library system. Sally Coohon, from Dolls and More in Northport Michigan, will bring all the parts and pieces for children to cut, sew and stuff their own doll to take home. A veteran teacher and expert craftswoman, Sally will lead the children step by step so that they can make a work of art and a new friend at the same time. Space and supplies are limited, therefore, pre-registration is required. Families with children ages 6-12 can register them in person at the Children’s Desk at Veterans Memorial Library or call 989.773.3242 ext. 13.

Who: The Chippewa River District Library, CMU’s Museum of Cultural and Natural History and the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation
What: The Craft of Doll making
Where: Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant
When: Thursday November 6th at 6pm

The Beyond Barbie: Dolls, Dress and Culture in Global Perspective exhibition is based on the collection of more than 350 dolls assembled by former CMU faculty member Barbara Bissot. Bissot taught at CMU from 1962 to 1992, first as a fourth grade teacher at the university lab school and then as a professor of elementary education. Bissot's brother, Father Robert Bissot, donated the collection to the CMU Museum of Cultural and Natural History following her death in 2007.

Bissot's passion for collecting dolls began while teaching at a U.S. military school in Germany in 1956, and she added to her collection nearly every year until 2006 through her international travels. She made a point to seek out dolls crafted by local artisans to ensure their ethnic accuracy and representation of their countries and local cultures. She often used them as teaching tools in her classes.

In addition to the display of dolls, the exhibit includes a children's educational activity room and special programs, complemented by the museum's Web site, http://www.museum.cmich.edu/, where visitors can view the dolls and learn about each one online. A portion of the dolls are also on exhibit in the Children’s Area at the Veterans Memorial Library branch of the Chippewa River District Library system.

The Craft of Doll Making is a free event, is open to the public, and will start at 6pm on Thursday November 6th at the Veterans Memorial Library branch of the Chippewa River District Library System.