Liz Pearce - New Zealand
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I am a mature woman who has had a life-long love of textiles. Acknowledging that I was an artist never entered my consciousness as I trained as a teacher and raised a family. In hindsight I see that creativity; curiosity; contemplation; lateral thinking; openness to possibility and a love of process underpinned all that I did.
My first adult encounter with doll making was about 20 years ago. I read two books. “Mother Plays with Dolls” by Elinor Peace Bailey and “Doll Making as a Transformative Process” by Pamela Hastings. My heart pounded with excitement as I immediately knew this art form was for me. A simple human form which could express what my soul needed to say. I am self-taught and work intuitively most of the time. My passion is working with textiles, especially those which already have a story embedded in their construction and use, e.g. old linens and tablecloths. I transform these materials into dolls, textile figures and soft sculptures. Each figure is a storyteller and a story keeper. The starting point for each textile sculpture is my own life story. Perhaps a life event or a reaction to a world event; an encounter with interesting materials or immersion in poetry or art; responding to the seasons or prayer. The act of creating is an act of self-discovery and transformation, of encountering wisdom and healing. Every aspect of doll making makes my soul sing. Exploring ideas and concepts. Designing sculptural forms. Auditioning fabrics and embellishments. Cutting and stitching. Mounting or posing the figures. Sharing their stories in person and on-line. The integrity and authenticity of this creative process speaks to others. They hear the story. They feel the energy. We are connected in our humanity. |
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