Phyllis May-Machunda to Talk About Diverse Dolls on CBS Saturday Morning, November 25
A recent interview with Dr. Phyllis M. May-Machunda conducted by Michelle Miller, which took place at the City Lore Gallery surrounded by their current exhibition, “The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Dolls and Puppets” will air on CBS Saturday Morning this Saturday, November 25th as part of a segment on Diverse Dolls. Check your local CBS schedule for airing time. Dr. May-Machunda served as the scholar for City Lore’s current exhibition, and the editor for the accompanying exhibition book.
“The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Doll and Puppet Making,” is conceived and curated by Camila Bryce-Laporte, (a noted doll maker herself) in partnership with scholar Phyllis M. Machunda. This exhibition includes dolls and puppets created by a group of 26 nationally acclaimed multi-media artists from the African Diaspora, who came of age in communities in the United States during the height of the Civil Rights and Black Arts Movements. Using mixed media, these visual storytellers chronicle the history, identity, and culture of their communities. Compelled or “called” to continue the special and enduring tradition of Black doll making, these artists recognize that their works are healing and transformative for themselves and for the communities they represent.
Dr. Phyllis M. May-Machunda is a folklorist/ethnomusicologist who has spent her career researching and bringing attention to absent narratives from communities of color. Prior to teaching for 30 years in Minnesota, she was employed as a folklorist/curator in Smithsonian’s Office of Folklife Programs and as a researcher for Smithsonian’s Program in Black American Culture. Earning her MA and Ph.D. from Indiana University’s Dept of Folklore, she is curator of several multicultural exhibitions, including the online Notable Folklorists of Color for the American Folklore Society (2019, 2022), and author of numerous articles.
“The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Dolls and Puppets” is on view at The City Lore Gallery through March 3, 2024. www.citylore.org
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