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Evolution of Dolls – Artist Talk by Joey Versaw
Our current long-term Artist-in-Residence, Joey Versaw, is giving a talk — “The Evolutions of Dolls” — here at OCSA on Sunday, September 7 at 1:00 pm. Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to learn from an expert in his field!
At the age of five, Joey Versaw knew he was different. Having been bullied at a young age, he quickly realized that his being different was not an acceptable or good thing by age eight. Even when he wanted to escape to a fantasy realm with dolls, it was unacceptable- dolls were for girls. But even this didn’t stop Joey; he decided if his parents would not purchase him a doll, he would just make his own!
Joey began making dolls out of any form of craft he could find from paper to clay. With no reason to lie or hide who he was, Joey came out of the closet to his family and friends at twelve years old. His passion for dolls led him to collect alongside the creating, and today Joey is a leading expert of Fashion doll history. Officially, Joey has been making and selling dolls since 2001.
Joey’s art tells the story of queer experience through fashion dolls as art. For some, they are beautiful dolls; for others, his dolls reflect that all love is valid and beautiful. They are examples that as queer people, we are not alone or wrong or as different as “little Joey” once was taught.
Dolls are for everyone.