The Thomas Stevens Gallery welcomes visiting artist Chris Kanoy and her Witchy Women Art Dolls.
Inspired by the kitchen witches of Norwegian folklore, these “kitchen witches with a twist” go beyond the kitchen to commemorate the incredible powers women possess; powers such as strength, persistence, resilience, intelligence, and compassion for a better world. Like all women, each doll is ONE OF A KIND, warts and all.
The entire week is dedicated to the compassionate work of the staff and volunteers of Planned Parenthood. All proceeds from the art dolls go to Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
Come in for a wicked good time and see which witch casts a spell on you. For $125 donation you can take one home. Sales begin on June 25 at the Preview / Meet the Artist Reception and continue (while they last) through the Last Fridays Art Walk on June 30.
Purchased dolls may be picked up on or after Saturday July 1st.
All the Kitchen Witch Art Dolls have been sold! Many thanks to everyone who attended the reception, to those who purchased a witch, and to everyone who supported Planned Parenthood! The Kitchen Witches will be all the gallery all week. Come visit us for the Last Friday Art Walk, or see them anytime at the gallery window.
Meet the Artist Reception: Sunday, June 25 from 5-7
Thomas Stevens Gallery
126 West King Street, Hillsborough NC
Special Preview Reception from 4-5 pm with purchase of $20 ticket (until sold out)
To purchase a ticket online go to: Witchywomen.ppsat.org
Like all women, my dolls are one of a kind. And like witches, we have our imperfections – warts and all. Motivated by the Women’s March in January 2017 to do something, I began to create my dolls with a purpose in mind. I thought how can I advocate for women and raise funds for human and women’s rights using my only real talent - art? And then it came to me, witches are powerful women! Perhaps witches with their pointy noses, warts, wands and incantations can demonstrate how we have the power within us to make change.
My inspiration for Witchy Women Dolls came from the kitchen witch dolls of Norwegian folklore. Yet, my “kitchen witches with a twist” move beyond the kitchen to commemorate the qualities of women: qualities such as strength, persistence, resilience, and compassion for a better world.
Creating a doll is unique in that it allows me to use a multitude of art forms. I can be challenged by the mechanics of wire armatures. I can draw, sculpt, and paint. I can select beautiful and expressive fabrics and fashion them into delightful clothing and top it all off with creative hairstyles from natural fibers and yarns.
The making and sharing of these dolls is my attempt to express the many inequities women face and, hopefully, stimulate thoughts and action in others. There are many ways to express love, tolerance, strength and compassion. In my dolls, I have chosen a playful way to honor, respect and encourage women.
~ Chris Kanoy
