Finding Pomegranete

A Creative Process of Transforming
One Healing Doll ​to Another
This is a poster I created for an exhibit at East Tennessee University in Johnson City, TN. The show's focus was
 “Shaping Lives: the transformative power of the figure.” 
The focus of this exhibit will be on the doll’s unique form or figure, but, in addition,, it will seek to feature artists that use this art form to create a visual voice – to tell a story, initiate a debate, make a statement or simply carry a message that would help educate, empower and /or change the life of another. 

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healing_doll_poster.pdf
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​A few years ago I created this veiled doll and hung her on the wall in my art studio. I knew it had something to do with the shame I felt about my body, having had four major surgeries all in the womb area or second chakra. One day I took her into my garden. There she guided me to connect with my higher wisdom and learn more about the Divine Feminine. I began doing research on the Divine Feminine and read Dance of the Dissident Daughter, by Sue Monk Kidd.

I created the poster to show next to the doll to teach how a dollmaker can use the figure to heal her body. I also share journal pages that I created to understand the process and visualize the transformation.

“The question occurred to me: Well, if that's do, if the Divine is ultimately formless and genderless, what's the big deal? Why all this bother? The bother is because we have no other way of speaking about the Absolute. We need forms and images.

Without them we have no way of relating to the  Divine. Symbol and image create a universal spiritual language. It's the language the soul understands.”

Veiled Shame

Exposing Wounds

Seeing Shadow

Rebirthing & Healing
She was veiled to hide her shame, then I exposed her veil, then I removed all the veils and hung her on a wall in my studio.
I shined a bright light on her so I could see her shadow. She looked as if she was reaching out to me. I slowly began to heal the wounds and transform her and her story into one of discovering her true self.

​Below are two others dolls in the show 
Picture
Connecting With Her Inner Self
Picture
Watering the Roots of Her Wisdom

What People say,

“Barb is a creative genius who goes out of her way to produce innovative, quality products. I cannot say enough for her skills and her work ethic! Her skills have helped countless people around the world.”   Kelly Guinan

“Barb is a fabulous teacher who loves to share her many years of experience making whimsical and soulful “dolls”. Her doll sculpting process is a form of creative expression that engages the psyche and brings healing and insight.”   Val Olson, Minneapolis

“She is not only unique, but compassionate, funny and knows exactly how to make learning about yourself a fun experience!”