Saturday, March 12, 2011

Siberia by Dale Messick



Above, Siberia by Dale Messick. There were other African-American characters featured in Messick's paper dolls, but I think this is Siberia. Was she included in the comic strip story line, or just a paper doll? Let me know, I'm clueless on that point.

Below, more from Garth Lax about the fantastic museums within driving distance from the convention host city. 

2011  INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION
 
                            LET  FREEDOM  RING !
 
                                      Email # 6
 
                           ART  AND  AMERICANA !
 
In a previous email, on the subject of Museums, I left you dangling on the
subject of a marvelous Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
 
Now, we'll cover it, in concert with another Museum of sorts that houses
the greatest collection of Americana anywhere in the world.
 
BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM
 
On US 1, in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, is a Museum housed in a
converted 19th Century grist mill. It's a 20 mile, or 30 minute, drive
from your Convention Hotel, and if you like the art of the Wyeths,
you're going to love this Museum.
 
The Brandywine River Museum has an extensive collection of works
by the Wythe family - - N.C., Andrew, and Jamie - -  as well as works
by Brandywine school founder Howard Pyle and students including
Maxfield Parrish, as well as paintings by American illustrators
Charles Dana Gibson, Rockwell Kent and others. Other works include
19th-century landscapes, still lifes and interior scenes by artists
including Jasper Cropsey, George Cope and Jefferson David Chalfant.

The Museum is open every day from 9:30 to 4:30.
Admission is $10 US for Adults, and $6 US for Seniors (65 and above).
 
But there's more.
 
As luck would have it, The house where N.C. Wyeth raised his
extraordinarily creative children and the studio in which he painted many
of his memorable works of art have been restored to reflect their
character in 1945, the year of the artist's death. Educational tours
departing from the museum are offered at timed intervals Wednesday
through Sunday; $5 per person in addition to museum admission.
 
And even more luck, for there's a second tour!.
 
For more than 70 years, the Kuerner Farm was a major source of
inspiration to Andrew Wyeth. Since his earliest painting of the farm in
1932 at the age of 15, Wyeth had found subjects in its people, animals,
buildings and landscapes for more than 1,000 works of art. Many of
Wyeth's best-known works of art emerged from his long fascination with
the farm, including Winter 1946 (1946), Groundhog Day (1959),
Evening at Kuerners (1970), Young Bull (1960), Spring Fed (1967),
and Overflow (1978). Reproductions of these works are viewed on the
tour, along with parts of the house, barn and property to demonstrate
how Wyeth altered the physical details of a site in order to communicate
a particular idea. Educational tours departing from the museum are
offered at timed intervals. Wednesday through Sunday. $5 per person
in addition to museum admission. Due to uneven walking surfaces,
the Kuerner Farm is not accessible to disabled individuals.
 
WINTERTHUR !
 
About 7 miles from the Brandywine River Museum is the world's finest
collection of Americana and American Decorative Arts.
 
Winterthur, the former residence of Henry Francis Dupont, has
nearly 200 period rooms, all purchased or salvaged from actual
houses. The rooms, which range in date from 1640 to 1840, are
completely furnished with paintings, silver, pewter, glassware, textiles,
and ceramics. For example:
 
A room taken from a 1680s house in Massachusetts displays plain
pine tables and chairs, along with a carved oak cupboard.
The 1733 Readbourne Parlor from Maryland's Eastern Shore has a
chest from Boston painted to resemble Chinese lacquerwork, a tea
table and chairs from Philadelphia, and a painting by John Wollaston.
There are rooms taken from homes in Maryland and Upstate New York.
There is a breathtakingly beautiful 1822 Montmorenci staircase from
North Carolina; a Charleston, South Carolina room with Chippendale
furniture; and a room of Empire-style furniture by Duncan  Phyfe.
 
Every room is different, and there's a surprise around every corner.
 
Winterthur is a little pricier than other venues we describe, but well
worth it. You will never see anything like it anywhere else - - because
there is nothing like it anywhere else!!
 
The General Admission price is $18 US for Adults; $16 for Seniors
(62 and over). The Admission includes access to the gardens, a
garden tram tour, the Galleries and special exhibitions, and an
Introductory Tour of the array of period rooms on the 5th and 6th floors.
If, in addition to the Introductory Tour, you'd like a 1 or 2 hour guided tour,
they are available at increased prices (make reservations at
1-800-448-3883).
 
All Tour packages include the Library (wait 'til you see what's there!)
because the Library is free.
 
 
Winterthur admission tickets are honored for two consecutive days
so if you prefer, you could visit the House on one day and
return the next day for the Library and Gardens.
 
The Museum (the House) and Gardens are open Tuesday-Sunday,
10 AM - 5 PM. Last tour is at 3:30 PM.
 
The Library is open Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
 
Winterthur is at 5105 Kennett Pike (Route 52), Winterthur DE 19735,
(For in-car GPS or online maps, use 5105 Kennett Pike,
Wilmington, DE  19807.)
 
Yes, Winterthur has two places where you may have lunch.
The Pavilion, in the Visitor Center, has hot entrees, panini, and a salad
  bar. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-4.
The Cafe is in the HF DuPont cottage, and has baked goods, salads,
  sandwiches, soups, fruit, coffee. Tuesday - Sunday 10 - 4:30.
 
 
Did I mention the Paper Dolls ??
 
Winterthur has one of the truly great Paper Doll Collections - -
the Maxine Waldron Collection. The collection is so extensive that
the items do not have individual catalog records, but are arranged
in categories - - Handmade Dolls,  Servicemen,  Advertising Dolls
(including trade cards), Greeting cards, Miscellaneous (Movie Stars,
Dolly Dingle, etc.),  3-D (including pantins),  Uncut Dolls, 
Furniture and Buildings (but not Toy Theaters - - though see below),
and Oversized.
 
So what specifically can you see? 
 
How about an embroidered chenille and paper dress trimmed
with gold, dating from about 1750? No doll, but, oh what a costume!
 
How about handmade paper booklets - - Overlays, including one
called "Coiffures"?
 
How about La Petite Psyche, plus three other Psyches? Wait 'til
you see them - - dolls, costumes, hats, boxes, little mirrors!
 
How about an 1840 piece - - doll, six costumes, hat - - believed to be of
young Queen Victoria?
 
What would you think of the famed "National Costumes" - - the Anson
Randolph family?
 
How about Jenny Lind, or Tom Thumb?
 
Perhaps some of the great European paper dolls - - Brave Boy,
Boy and Girl, the Virtuous Girl, or the Greatest and Most Beautiful
Doll ??
 
Those are just a few that I know are in there. I can't begin to describe
all the treasures that will be revealed before your eyes. 
 
Above, I noted that Toy Theaters were not in the Waldron Paper Doll
Collection. However, the Paper Toys and Games collections are
fascinating as well, and contain such rarities as:
 
Peep Shows depicting Garden Parties, Model Villages, a Farmyard,
and exotic places,
 
Victorian Theater sets, complete with stages, props, and characters,
 
A Roll Panorama, made by Milton Bradley in the late 1800s
 
Board Games, such as The Circle of Knowledge, an 1818 copy of
Newton's New Game of Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished, and
an 1840 German geography lottery game.
All these are in the Archives in the Library, open M-F, 8:30-4:30
Note that the Museum (House) is open Tuesday-Sunday, so plan
accordingly if you wish to see both. Again, the Winterthur tickets
are valid for two consecutive days.
 
Now - - the Winterthur Librarian needs some advance notice if you're
going to go to see this incredible collection. So, if you are planning
a visit at Convention time, tell me, so I can tell them that people
want to see it - - and on which days.
 
 
DINING OPTIONS
 
If you'd like to eat lunch other than at Winterthur, here are two options:
 
Hank's Place is a nice, casual restaurant at the intersection of US 1
and Route 100.  It serves soups ($2.95 - $3.75), Salads ($5 - $10),
and has a wide variety of sandwiches ($5 - $8).
It's open Monday 6 AM-4 PM, Tuesday - Saturday 6 AM - 7 PM,
and Sunday 7 AM - 3 PM.
 
For a higher level of ambiance and excellent food, you might try
The Gables of Chadds Ford.  The Gables is located in a converted
1800s dairy barn, and boasts a simple though elegant setting.
The menu offers a contemporary twist on American cuisine, using
French and Asian influences. For lunch, the Gables offers
Soups and Salads ($7 - $9), Hot Entrees ranging from Jambalaya to
crab cake sandwiches to Petit filet, as well as a Fish du Jour and
a Quiche du Jour ($12). It's located on US 1 between Route 100 and
Route 52. Open for Lunch Tuesday - Friday 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.
 
A note of thanks to Marion Creamer for her valuable input on the
Brandywine Museum and the Gables.  Marion has been to both and
gives each an enthusiastic recommendation!
 
The Brandywine River Museum and Winterthur!
Sound like a couple of venues that could make your day - - don't they?
 
I'll be back in two weeks with "The Sportin' Life!"
 
- - Garth
 
          2011 INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION
                               August 17 - 21, 2011
                  Embassy Suites - Philadelphia Airport
                               9000 Bartram Avenue
                            Philadelphia,  PA  19153
                                                   
******************************************************************************
                          CONVENTION REGISTRATION
 
NAME__________________________________________________
 
ADDRESS_______________________________________________
 
CITY_______________________STATE_______ ZIP/PC__________
 
EMAIL_____________________________________
 
PHONE____________________________________
 
Registration:  $295.00 USD 
 
Absentee Registration:  $155.00 USD
  (Absentee Registrations are limited in number.)
 
Guest Registration (Meals, Reception Party) $150.00
  GUEST NAME:__________________________________________
 
Make Checks payable to:  2011 Paper Doll Convention
 
____ Check/money order enclosed
 
____ Credit Card #____________________________Exp.Date______
        (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx accepted)
        (charge will appear on statement as "Paperdoll Review")
 
Mail to:
 
David Wolfe
P.O. Box 2279
New Preston,  CT  06777
**********************************************************************************

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