At a glance
Stick dolls, dove tiles, and tin clocks are among the works on display at the Hinkle Memorial Library gallery at Alfred State College from now until the end of February. The exhibit features the creations of three members of the Allegany Artisans: Betsy and Charles Orlando of Belmont and Elaine Hardman of Wellsville.
Stick dolls, dove tiles, and tin clocks are among the works on display at the Hinkle Memorial Library gallery at Alfred State College from now until the end of February. The exhibit features the creations of three members of the Allegany Artisans: Betsy and Charles Orlando of Belmont and Elaine Hardman of Wellsville.
Betsy uses bits of fabrics, adds whimsy and notions, and creates art dolls. Her most ephemeral and whimsical are the stick dolls that prance across one wall of the gallery. Betsy once attended a workshop where participants were given a table full of stuff and directed to give it personality. That’s when she made her first stick doll. She has gone on to make many such dolls and even offers workshops in stick dolls, suggesting that the activity is a “great birthday party activity for kids or adults.”
Details of Betsy’s doll workshops are listed at www.CraftWorkShops.blogspot.com. The blog lists several area artisans who offer small workshops for families or groups of friends. Make a doll, a bracelet, centerpieces, tote bags, or pottery with Betsy or one of the other artisans who enjoy making things.
Other dolls in the show are more complex. Many of Betsy’s dolls were made to meet challenges. Pamela Armas, who sells fabric and trims from India, each year sponsors a doll challenge. Doll makers pay a fee and are given the details of the challenge and some fabrics and trims. They may add to the materials but must create a doll to answer the theme. Betsy made “Shell Collector” for the challenge named “Treasures of the Sea.” Betsy said that generally close to 100 dolls are sent to the Houston Quilt Show to meet Armas’ yearly challenge.
Another doll in the exhibit is Nils the Nisse. Nisse are Scandinavian elves and Nils was created as a class sample for a workshop Betsy taught. Betsy not only makes dolls, but also is an accomplished knitter though she says that her husband Charley is the true knitting pro.
Charley’s art ranges from knitting to felting to blacksmithing to the construction of musical instruments. He not only makes musical instruments but has learned to play all that he's made. Since that didn’t keep him busy enough, after Charley met Bobby Hansson, the guru of tin can art, he was inspired to take that up too. Now Charley teaches tin can art at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, when he’s not teaching blacksmithing or knitting.
Betsy teaches at the Folk School too. Her classes include book arts, dolls, figurative sculpture, and mixed media.
The ceramic work in the show was created by potter Elaine Hardman. Elaine dabbles in fibers, plays flute and piccolo, and occasionally writes for local papers, but for real fun she works with clay. In the show are several functional pieces. Elaine feels that the best part of making pottery is hearing how her work becomes important to people either because they use it every day or for special occasions. She feels honored that some of her artwork is counted among people’s small treasures.
In addition to some bowls and jars there is a whimsical cow bowl. Elaine makes a number of different animals as bowls, banks, and cookie jars. Also included are a tile and mirror entitled “Peace in Your Life” and an outdoor tile called “Happy Chicken.”
Elaine also offers workshops at the CraftWorkShops.Blogspot site. All three are members of the Allegany Artisans and more of their work can be found at www.AlleganyArtisans.com.
The exhibit can be viewed during the Library’s regular hours: Mondays – Thursdays 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 11 p.m.