Cultural Connections
FOXBURG — Dolls are being used here to boost cultural awareness.
Last spring, the Maridon Museum, a high school teacher and her students sent two dolls to Japan. More than 90 students, along with political, business and educational leaders gathered at the Maridon for a ceremonial send off of the two "Miss Mary" dolls. One went to a Japanese high school and one went to Toshiba's headquarters.
On March 3, students from Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School and their Japanese language teacher, Dixie Lipnichan, gathered at the school to accept two dolls in return from Toshiba, the majority owner of Westinghouse Electric, based in Cranberry Township.
The exchange is part of Lipnichan's efforts to connect her students to cultures and opportunities worldwide.
She uses the Maridon as an extension of her classroom because of its focus on Asian art and culture. In 2008, she introduced Japanese language classes to A-C Valley students.
Lipnichan established an initiative with the school to do community outreach. "Cherryish Our Community" involves students in public service and awareness of the Japanese culture, according to the news release.
The presentation of the Japanese dolls here helped to mark Hinamatsuri or the Doll Festival. On this day, the health, welfare, happiness and growth of girls is celebrated by doll displays.
Lipnichan said it made the day special for her students.
"We are currently studying the history and events of Hinamatsuri," she said. "By having the dolls presented on this day, the importance of this holiday will be remembered."
The dolls that were sent to Japan were named in honor of the Maridon's founder, Mary Hulton Phillips, who died in January 2009.
The original Miss Mary doll was among thousands of dolls sent to Japan in 1927 as "silent ambassadors" of goodwill by Sidney Gulick's Committee on World Friendship Among Children.
"The namesake of the new Miss Mary dolls envisioned and created a better world through the sharing of her time, attention and resources with her community," Lipnichan said. "Her legacy hopefully will inspire our young people to work together to improve the world they live in."
Lipnichan received a book on the history of the American-Japanese doll exchange from the Gulick family. The book, "Dolls of Friendship: The Story of a Goodwill Project Between the Children of America and Japan" was written by Gulick in 1929.
The dolls from Japan are on display at the Maridon through March. They then will return to A-C Valley High School for display.
