The flip doll — a two-sided doll that is connected at the waist — has a long history, starting with the Civil War era in the American South. In this presentation, you will learn some of that history and discover how flip dolls have evolved over time to become storytelling vehicles. You will learn how flip dolls, in their dual nature, are uniquely suited to explore universal themes such as shadow and light, good and evil, above and below, seen and unseen. Erika will share some of the flip-dolls that she has created as examples of this kind of inner exploration. Then, Erika will lead a short guided meditation in which each person will encounter her/his own shadow and inner guide. After the meditation, we’ll spend time creating our own simple flip dolls to represent these parts — shadow and guide — using simple materials, easily found at home. Then we’ll share about the process and the experience.
Materials
- Paper with a card-stock thickness (you can use the front of a cereal box-it doesn’t have to be complicated)
- Simple drawing materials, colored pencils, markers, cray-pas, crayons, etc.
- Paints/brushes
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Template for making a paper flip doll will be provided for those who need additional guidance
