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"President Obama, Team Captain" by Shana Barry
In honor of President Obama's second week in office (the first 100 days are the most important), I took the liberty to interview artist Shana Barry, who has contributed to the international "Art of Obama" movement with the creation of her unique Obama dolls. Shana's art truly embrace the spirit of our country's new administration, which to many seems to be one of charisma, wit and hope. Below is an exclusive, up-close and personal interview with Shana about the success of her Obama dolls project.
1.) How did you get started in the art of doll-making, and why the Obama project?
I love to make dolls and made my first doll when I was four years old, but the Obama dolls are the first modeled off a real person. All the other dolls I've created came from my imagination.
I live on a little island on the border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. On a stormy night in early December, I was sitting by the wood stove, listening to music and putting the finishing touches on a new doll I had just sewn. Giving the face a final coat of paint, I recognized the doll. It looked a lot like President Obama. And it was completely by accident.
The next day, I intentionally created an Obama doll out of scraps of cloth and canvas I had laying around my studio. Less than a week later, a 20-inch tall "President Obama, Leader of the Free World" doll was finished, complete with a red power tie, handmade leather oxfords, wearing a sleek tailored, black suit. A week later, the doll was sold to a woman in Illinois. I had so much fun creating the first doll that I decided to make more.
2.) What is your favorite Obama doll that you have made thus far and why?
"President Obama, Team Captain" was really fun to make, especially his hand-crafted canvas basketball shoes with the Obama campaign logo. They're styled after Chuck Taylors. I made "Team Captain" because of Obama's love of basketball, as both a player and fan. I think it's significant he's a basketball player. He's the leader of the team, but also a team player. He's intelligent and a strategic thinker, but he is willing to listen to the ideas of others. And that, in light of the last eight years of Bush, is a miracle.
3.) Do you consider your work political? Please explain.
I don't consider myself political and don't think of dolls as political objects. I'm making the dolls in honor of President Obama's election. Honestly, I wouldn't have created a President Bush doll, unless it was a voodoo doll! I'm also a painter. Lately my style has been geared to the imaginary and whimsical and many prints of my work hang in children's bedrooms across America. Lastly, I am also a singer-songwriter with a brand new album of children's music being released in mid-February called "A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree." The songs are acoustic guitar and voice, singing stories about a magical island inhabited by gentle creatures.
4.) Any plans for making more Michelle dolls, as well as Sasha and Malia dolls?
I only planned on sewing one Michelle doll, though I may feel inspired to make another . The recent controversy about the Sasha and Malia dolls manufactured by TY is causing me to think twice about making dolls of the girls.
5.) In this new administration, what do you personally hope for? What is the change you wish to see in the world?
I hope the Obama administration will work to mend relationships with other nations and focus on creating peace in the world, be leaders in the development of solar and wind energy and take actions to lessen environmental pollution. I'd also like to see health care for all.
Perhaps the ART of change is finally coming to the United States... and the rest of the world, starting with grassroots movements such as Shana's. Not a bad Valentine's Day gift for those who adore our 44th President!
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