Raíces y sueños: Papier-mâché Doll-making Workshop

Join us for a special Hispanic Heritage Month workshop at the Eastside Library! Artist Ramona Garcia will narrate the history of Mexican papier-mâché doll-making as you create your own doll and accompanying poem with the title “De dónde vengo." Both the doll and the poem will be featured in a Hispanic Heritage Month gallery exhibition at the Central Library. 

In this single-day workshop, you will sew and create your own doll using molded forms, string, embellishments, and paint. You will also learn about the history of the papier-mâché doll as a traditional, indigenous Mexican artform as well as its use in modern art therapy practices.

Papier-mâché dolls are known as a traditional, beloved toy for Mexican children. Today, this tradition is struggling to survive, being kept alive only in the workshops of the few artisans who continue to produce papier-mâché dolls. They do this not for monetary gain but to promote the continuity of this beautiful artform. This doll-making workshop will focus on informed practices to heal trauma, especially targeted to the often overlooked Spanish-speaking immigrant community.

This event is recommended for individuals 12 years and older. We encourage participants who are within this age range to register to ensure everyone has the best experience!

About the Artist: Ramona Garcia is a painter and visual artist who resides in Sacramento, CA. Her work is inspired by her cultural upbringing and her passion to voice issues related to the experiences of women of color, particularly through art therapy and doll-making. She is the recent recipient of the Seedling Creativity Grant from the Office of Art and Culture in Sacramento.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about a beautiful art form and participate in meaningful creative expression. Though this workshop is geared to Spanish-speakers and will be held primarily in Spanish, all are welcome.

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.

Disclaimer(s):

Participants in this event may be photographed by Library staff. These photos may be used in promotional or educational publications, including in print, social media, and presentations. Please see staff if you do not consent to having your photo taken. Staff will obtain individual, signed photo releases of photographs that contain only an individual as opposed to a group.