Japanese Kokeshi Doll Presentation and Workshop at the Blue Hill Library

One of the kokeshi dolls from Frederica Marshall’s collection and
is similar to the ones that will be painted in this workshop.

Blue Hill, Maine - Postdoctoral researcher Jennifer McDowell and Deer Isle artist Frederica Marshall will team up for a Japanese cultural program and workshop for ages 7 and up, including adults, at the Blue Hill Public Library on Saturday June 7th at 10:30 AM.

Jennifer E. McDowell’s childhood fascination with Japanese folk art and aesthetics continued on as the topic research for both her Masters and PhD in Cultural Anthropology.  For the last fifteen years she has been dedicated to the study of kokeshi doll culture (production, sale, and collecting), and is currently conducting Post-doctoral research on renewed interest in this folk art form in Japan.

Frederica grew up in Japan and delights in sharing Japanese stories, arts and crafts. She has both bachelor and masters of fine arts degrees, and is a master brush painter, artist, teacher and researcher and teaches sumi-e and watercolor classes at her studio in Deer Isle, at educational institutions on Florida's gulf coast and in the Republic of China.  She currently has an exhibit of Japanese kokeshi dolls in the Larchwood Cases that runs to the end of June.

Jennifer will give a visual presentation about kokeshi dolls and Frederica will then lead the group in painting their own kokeshi dolls on unfinished wooden forms. Japanese snacks will be served!

This workshop is free but registration is required. Participants can sign up using the Library’s interactive web calendar at www.bhpl.net, or call the library at 374-5515.