Objects of Identity: A Conversation on Dolls and Collecting
September 9, 2026 5:30 pm Griswold House
Join us for a special conversation between curator Tanya Hayes and collector Shelley D. Schorsch exploring the intersections of collecting, identity, memory, and play through historic dolls, toys, and automata.
Presented in an intimate interview-style format, the discussion will trace the histories and personal narratives embedded within objects from Shelley D. Schorsch’s collection, examining how dolls and automata reflect cultural values, childhood imagination, and evolving ideas of selfhood. Featuring historic dolls and automata connected to the exhibition Play / Pretend, the program offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from a passionate collector whose lifelong engagement with these objects reveals their emotional, artistic, and historical significance.
The conversation will be followed by an exhibition walk-through in the gallery.
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