All Dressed Up

Pool noodles, plastic balls, bottle caps, chicken-wire, plastic bags, disposable eating utensils, mattress covers, and wool yarn are some of the materials that were used to create the accessories and the dresses on each doll. Many of the accessories were made by the kids of Arts Reach Worcester.

Oh, the dresses, the most symbolic component of each doll and the most challenging. Stacy Lord, Laura Marotta and Vanessa Joga knew this was a project about culture but they also understood that artistic creation should be included as well so that it contained the artist’ touch; however, it made everyone reflect on how far can the limit be pushed when it comes to merging creative style with cultural attire. It made us cautious about not crossing the line into appropriation and truly respecting cultural identity.