Download Geri Hayden - Doll Maker Artist Bio

Yarns of the Heart
Artist Biographies
Noongar Doll Makers
GERI HAYDEN Geri a mother and a grandmother and great-­‐grandmother, born in Beverley, a town in the Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia. She grew up on the Reserve in Brookton with her family, old Nanas and great-­‐grandmothers. She watched the old women make dolls for her and her sisters from whatever materials they could find. As she grew older she would make her own dolls with bottles and tins, and dress them with baby rugs that her old Nans would give her. It is these fond memories of her family that has made her so passionate about cultural arts, and continuing the tradition. Geri started running workshops as a CAN WA staff member, then partnered with the Best-­‐start Program where ladies came with their children. The children would play and read and the mums and Nans would sew and make their dolls, and tell their own personal stories. This lead to weekly workshops with Noongar women in the community. Geri has been a part of every exhibition and workshop showcasing the Noongar dolls, travelling to Canberra and Sydney to share and talk about her dolls and stories, as well as presenting at prestigious conferences on the healing effects of doll making. Exhibitions 2013/2014 string theory: Focus on contemporary Australian art Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney / Perth Institute of Contemporary Art 2012 Joint exhibition with Uthando Project for Reconciliation Week Perth Town Hall 2012 Exhibition display Wagin Woolorama 2011/2012 Yarns of the Heart: Noongar Dolls from the Southern Wheatbelt WA Museum Perth 2011 Yarns of the Heart Narrogin Nursery Café and Gallery Workshop/Presentations 2014 Doll making workshops Perth Institute of Contemporary Art 2014 Artist Talk Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney 2013 Presentation on Yarns of the Heart Art of Health and Wellbeing conference, Fremantle 2012 Doll making workshops Geraldton Community Resource Centre 2011/2012 Doll making workshop series Narrogin Primary School East Narrogin Primary School Narrogin Senior High School Kulin District High School Tambellup Primary School NAIDOC Day Midvale Primary School 2011/2012 Doll making workshop Wardarnji Festival, Fremantle Arts Centre (2011, 2012, 2013) Photo credits from top L-­‐R Bo Wong | Geri Hayden with her doll ‘Charrnock Woman’ | Image courtesy CAN WA Alex Davies | Geri presenting Artist Talk at MCA, Sydney | Image courtesy MCA Nalda Searles | Geri Hayden facilitating workshop in Pingelly | Image courtesy CAN WA