Paper Dolls for a Paper Girl

​Dolls and their clothes have long been a source of comfort and excitement for children, especially young femmes. In adulthood, though, dolls and other “cute” objects are rarely treated as art forms worthy of serious attention. Like many traditionally feminine interests—and many Asian aesthetic trends—they’re often dismissed as superficial, rather than recognized for their depth and nuance.

​In this workshop, we’ll explore the cultural values and lived experiences at the heart of femme, Asian, and “cute” aesthetics. When we turn to making our own paper dolls, we’ll do so with the belief that they can carry dense character and meaning—if we want them to. We’ll begin by introducing ourselves and a favorite doll, followed by a short talk from inpuddles on the philosophy behind the night’s work. Then, we’ll create our own paper dolls and paper clothes to take home.

​Shashi is an illustrator and poet living and working in Brooklyn. She intends to open up holes in the density of our lives by positing questions rather than answers in her drawings. These questions often take the form of non linear and melancholic picture books. Her current passion project is a picture book called Goodbye Rain, which ponders what it can mean to love a raindrop. Her life and drawings sustain themselves on poetry, philosophy, and a lot of blue.