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Notion Nanny is a collaborative touring project that originated in the United Kingdom in 2005 and was developed with London-based curatorial partnership B+B, Sarah Carrington and Sophie Hope.
Once popular in Victorian England, "notion nannies" are dolls that depict the village character type of a peddler woman wearing a red cloak and holding a basket overflowing with miniature wares. Although little is known about these dolls, they may have commemorated the dying social custom of itinerant traders who traversed the countryside carrying household goods, sewing notions, and home remedies, as well as news and information. Their baskets contain a tiny world of 18th and early 19th century material culture, offering up abundant examples of bygone craft traditions. I like to think of the notion nanny as a custodian of ideas.
For this project, I took on the role of an itinerant apprentice working with self-identified "traditional" makers, engaging them in a dialogue about the politics and the economies of the handmade, asking them, "What could be considered 'revolutionary' about your 'traditional' craft practice?"
With a major grant from Arts Council England and additional funding from the Jerwood Charity, Notion Nanny evolved as a series of residencies, performative public programs, and a cumulative traveling exhibition that has made stops in Cumbria, London, Shropshire, New England, the Bay Area, and New York. At each location, I have worked with local crafts practitioners to produce objects for my own life-size Notion Nanny doll. Skills I've learned so far include blacksmithing, basket weaving, lace making, linen weaving, wheat braiding, felt making, pottery, wood carving, millinery, horn carving, tin work, stained glass, letterpress printing, and many more.
The Notion Nanny website includes a travel blog from 2005-2007 and includes more information on the project and the unique "guild" of participants that formed around it.
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Bonnet 2006 Glazed cotton
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Diggers Charger 2006 Slipware
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Penny Thief Pin Cushion 2006 Needlepoint, wool
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Toasting Fork 2007 Wrought steel
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Twill Tape 2006 Woven linen
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Loom Light 2006 Wrought steel, beeswax
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Surrender Flag 2007 Stained glass
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Dust Pan 2006 Punched tin
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Bucket 2004 Earthenware
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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French Revolutionary Ceramics 2004 Glazed earthenware
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Token 2006 Braided wheat
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Doll 2006 Corn Husk, cotton
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Mason Jar 2001 Blown glass, leather
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Convalescent Soldier Pin Cushion 2005 Felt, pins, sequins, beads
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Ruskin Lace 2005 Linen
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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US Naval Warship Tile 2007 Ceramic
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Dove Cottage Pin Cushion 2005 Embroidery on cotton aida cloth
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Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Untitled 2007 Watercolor on paper
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Exhibited in MATRIX 222 "Allison Smith: Notion Nanny," University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Curated by Elizabeth Thomas. Collection of Elizabeth Kessinides. Photo credit Cathy Carver. |
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Notion Nanny (installation view) 2006
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"Ahistoric Occasion: On the Uses of History," Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams. Curated by Nato Thompson. Originally commissioned by B+B, Sarah Carrington and Sophie Hope. Supported by Arts Council England, the Jerwood Charity, and Craftspace Touring. Collection of The Saatchi Gallery, London. Photo credit Laura Mueller. |
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Notion Nanny 2006
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"Allison Smith: Notion Nanny," Qube gallery, Oswestry Community Action, Shropshire, United Kingdom. Originally commissioned by B+B, Sarah Carrington and Sophie Hope. Co-curated by Jo Davis. Supported by Arts Council England, the Jerwood Charity, and Craftspace Touring. Collection of The Saatchi Gallery, London. Photo credit Qube. |
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Notion Nanny (basket detail) 2006 Please click on image again for more detail.
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"Allison Smith: Notion Nanny," Qube gallery, Oswestry Community Action, Shropshire, United Kingdom. Originally commissioned by B+B, Sarah Carrington and Sophie Hope. Co-curated by Jo Davis. Supported by Arts Council England, the Jerwood Charity, and Craftspace Touring. Collection of The Saatchi Gallery, London. Photo credit Qube. |
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Notion Nanny (Tea Party) 2005 Please click on image again for more detail.
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"Allison Smith: Notion Nanny," Studio Voltaire, London. Originally commissioned by B+B, Sarah Carrington and Sophie Hope. Co-curated by Joe Scotland. Supported by Arts Council England, the Jerwood Charity, and Craftspace Touring. Photo credit Sophie Hope. |
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