I made my first set of nesting dolls this time last year in an effort to find something to give my kids for Winter Wonderday (long story involving my ex’s aversion to Christmas, couple’s therapy and a pant-stuffing snowchicken called Irving - read about it here).
Sweaters and books and gadgets are great, sure. But one thing I’ve learned over 20-plus years of parenting and 4-odd years of making art: things you make yourself are the best. Long after all the stuff from Amazon or Target are lost or forgotten, these things – the arts and crafts, the products of actual human hands moved by love – stick around.
Hence these little guys - hollow wooden dolls colorfully decorated with blossoms and succulents and big-eyed, mouth-less forms that I like to think of as friendly spirits, looking out with encouragement and wonder. I call them NESTING SPIRITS.
The idea was hatched looking at a set of Russian matryoshkas, the collectable figures that most commonly feature cute old ladies in headscarves (also sometimes, celebrities & politicians). I love the way this curious artform is made to fit snugly together and allow for holding and fiddling with.
The gifts were a hit and now that I’ve made a set for my family, this year I decided to spread the love, working up five new sets that I’m hoping will end up beside your Christmas tree, menorah or Winter Wonderday chicken nest (OK that’s just us). Each set of six is $300 - affordable art!
I’ve also got a bunch of new paintings and half-priced framed archival digital prints - do some creative holiday shopping over at www.christophernoxonart.com.
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