PROFILE OF AN ARTIST

Qasimah p. Boston

Lowcountry dollmaker, Qasimah p. Boston is the creator of The Original Doll Stories dolls.  These unique dolls were created to preserve the history of the Sea Islands Gullah/Geeche people and other peoples of African decent.  Ms. Boston has been crafting The Original Doll Stories since 1990.  She says, "I have a passion for telling stories through dolls that are lifelike and I consider myself a storyteller, telling stories with my dolls."  

What a delightful way to tell stories and to learn about people and their culture.  To get to know Ms. Boston and learn more about her Original Doll Stories, she was asked the following series of questions:

When and what inspired you to begin making dolls?

"I began making the Original Doll Story Collection in 1990 in Columbus, OH.  My daughter was about 7 then when I had a dream to make dolls.  I had never made dolls before, but the dream was like an instruction to make dolls.  That day, I gathered all of the art and craft materials I could find and began creating little dolls.  I registered for the International Festival in Columbus, OH and was accepted. I also applied for the Ibago Ball at Ohio State University.  At both of these events, my dolls were received with excitement and this excitement has inspired me to continue making these dolls over 15 years later.  At both of these events my dolls were a sellout!"

Are you self-taught, or have you received formal training in doll artistry?

"I am self-taught; however, I have friends who have graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design and other popular artists who teach me various art techniques, e.g.  mold making and sculpting."

What is your preferred medium and why was that medium chosen?

"My medium is various craft materials, textiles, wood, and tile.  I prefer this mixed media approach.  I really enjoy textiles from around the world and making them attractive.  While living in Africa, I noticed that many of the craft items that people worldwide look for are made from a mixed media approach and I was attracted to this.  I also do some clay and resin pieces because I enjoy sculpting.  As I learn more and more about sculpting I will mesh this technique with my doll making style."

Do you focus on one type of doll or do you create a variety of genders or age groups?

"I create a variety of genders and age group dolls.  There are over 41 various doll stories that I make.  One is called Children Playing Clap Hands, another is, The Elder, and another is Birth, which is of a man holding a new born baby up to the heavens.  They all are the same style, but different stories or types."

Which type do you prefer to make, i.e. male or female, young or old?

"I make both male and female dolls; however, I prefer to make female dolls, and I love making elder dolls.  Because I am a woman, I can relate to all of the individual stories of the female dolls I make. I also like seeing the excitement of others when they see the female dolls."

Elaborate on your first doll.  Do you still have it?  What was its name?  Were you pleased with its outcome?  If you sold it, for how much did it sell, and to whom did you sell it?

"I do not have my first doll.  The name of my first doll was a doll story called The Grand Booba.  It was a doll that had a beautiful white and gold garment on called the Grand Booba.  The Grand Booba is a garment worn in West Africa.  It is very big and flowing and worn with a wrap skirt called a “lapa.”  This garment is very elegant and striking when you see it worn.  The women of West Africa do everything with this garment on and it is very cool for the hot climates of the West African countries.  I made the fabric of this doll story with cottons and I hand painted the geometrical patterns on the fabric. I sold this doll for $7.00 to a collector in Boston, Massachusetts.  I was pleased with the outcome because this was the beginning of my career as a doll maker."

Describe your latest doll creation and the inspiration for creating it?

"One of my latest creations is a functional doll called,  The African Woman Carrying Box.  It is a doll story that I have been making.  She has calabash or gourd on her head and she wears a beautiful and colorful garment.  Now instead of a wood or tile base, she is on a box that can be used on a desk for paper clips or decoration, for coins, or to store other small items.  The top of the box comes off and the doll is attached to the top.  It is very popular now.  I starting making it in September 2005."

Before you begin making a doll, do you have an idea what the doll will look like or do your dolls create themselves?

"Whenever I have an idea about what a doll will look like when I am creating it, I am always surprised because it always reveals so much more beauty than I had imagined.  My dolls seem to create themselves.  I begin with a general idea—a subject—and then I begin to put it together.  The results are always surprising to me."

Have you ever created a portrait doll?

"I have made dolls that represent a personality or a situation.  They don’t look like the person, but they depict a person’s situation.  For example.  A woman in Pennsylvania lost 3 sons and called me to make 3 guardian angels representing them.  I made male angels and each one was named for one of her sons.  Each one had a story card that told about one aspect of that particular son.  A woman in Brunswick, GA wanted me to make a dancer that represented her daughter who was a dancer.  I made the doll with the daughter’s favorite colors, and the story was a story of the daughter's experience in dance.

"My dolls are made to depict the everyday lifestyles of people throughout the world."

Does each doll have its own personality?

"Yes, each doll has its own distinct personality.  I have heard people say so.  I can make 3 African Woman Carrying doll stories; but because they are individually made, they all different, even if they are made with the same textiles.  Sometimes this even amazes me."

How do you decide on the clothing and accessories for your dolls and do you make these?

"I make everything for my dolls--clothing, jewelry, fans, calabashes, all accessories.  I decide on clothing and accessories based on the research I do on the particular doll idea.  For example,  I have a Gullah/Geechee Doll Story.  Their clothing is based on the history of the Gullah/ Geechee people of coastal Georgia and South Carolina.  So lots of burlap is used and I use fabric that looks like the old days in the United States."

Do you have your own personal style or trademark? If so, please elaborate.

"I do have my own personal style.  My dolls are small about 7-1/2 to 10 inches tall.  They are all signed and dated, and they all have their own story cards that go along with them.  Many people want me to make big dolls and I do occasionally make custom-made large dolls, but my personalized style is the 7-1/2 to 10-inch dolls."

How do you decide what to name your doll stories and do their names have meanings?

"I name my doll stories according to the story they are telling.  When I see an image in real life that I want to depict, the name will come from that image.  For example, there is a doll story called, Lenjin.  Lenjin is a Mandingo Rites of Passage Dance that I saw in Gambia, West Africa .  All of the names of my dolls have meanings.  These meanings are elaborated in the story card that comes along with the doll." 

Would you share a brief Doll Story?

"One doll story, called OSHUN, is the goddess of love, passion, and beauty.  She loves order and new things and she loves to be beautiful all the time.  She also represent prosperity and likes the number five.  She likes the river and loves mirrors.  Oshun's story originates from the Nigerian culture."

Approximately how much time is required to make one of your doll from start to finish?

"To make one of my dolls from start to finish takes about 6 to 7 hours."

In a year's time, approximately how many dolls do you create?

"In a year's time I create about 500 dolls.  This number is growing and many of my friends are helping me now."

What is the average cost of one of your dolls today?

"Each single doll costs $65.00. Double dolls cost $150.00. Custom-made dolls are priced per order."

How are your dolls presented to the doll community -- through doll shows, the Internet, auctions, etc.?

"My dolls are presented through doll shows, craft shows, my web site (see below for link), the Internet, exhibitions, art galleries, doll club visits and presentations."

Have you done any dolls shows recently?  Do you have any planned for the future?

"I just did the doll show in Santee, South Carolina.  I plan on doing the doll show in Myrtle Beach next spring." 

Do you teach your doll art?

"I do teach and I also demonstrate/lecture to groups of young and old people throughout the Southeast."

Do you have any tips for aspiring doll artists?

"If you want to make this a practice, be patient and courageous, determined and disciplined, and never, never be discouraged.  If you want to do it for fun—go for it because doll making is a lot of fun and gives the maker and others a lot of comfort and joy."

What's next for you? Do you see yourself creating dolls long into the future?

"After I complete my current tour of the United States, I see myself doing a European tour.  I have collectors in Europe and Australia who are always encouraging this.   I am currently on tour in Virginia.  

"Yes, I do see myself creating dolls long into the future." 

You obviously want collectors to gain a sense of realism through looking at your dolls.   What else do you desire for collectors to gain by owning your dolls?

"I want collectors to gain a sense of realism and life through looking at my dolls.  I want them to see the lifestyle that is depicted by my dolls come alive.  I also want collectors to get a sense of comfort and joy when they see my dolls as well as a sense of value of human life worldwide.  My dolls are like a chain link that links one world to another... one lifestyle to another..."

Gullah Man

Gullah Ouman (Woman) - her story card reads:

African Americans in the Southern region retain African traditions and culture called "Gullah" or "Geechee."  These Africans have their own language and many were the rice growers in America.

Gullah Man and Ouman

Yemayah

Mother of the waters and Mother of Life

African Woman Carrying

The Guardian Angel

Lenjin, a Mandingo Traditional Rites of Passage Dance

Oshun
The Goddess of love, passion, beauty and wealth

The Djun Djun Woman - The Djun Djun is a traditional 

West African drum that plays the base of African rhythm.

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Thank you, Qasimah, for sharing your gift of doll story artistry with The Black Doll-E-Zine. 
 
Contact information for Qasimah:

Phone:  (912) 238-9301

Email:  abarakaq@aol.com or  dollstories@artyouown.com

Web site:  http://www.artyouown.com

Address:  Qasimah p. Boston

                      623 W. 34^th Street

                           Savannah , GA   31415