Tribute To Dorothy

Materials: Tree, chair back, bittersweet vines, mink collar, bra, mom’s high heels, Dorothy’s arms and head.

Dimensions: 6’L x 28”W x 10”D

Year 2012

Dorothy Zaconick was born in 1912. In the early 30’s she traveled in Europe training with old world woodworking master craftsmen and puppeteers. Back in the US, she created the Dozari Puppet Company, later called the Suzari Puppet Company. She created hundreds of marionettes, traveled the country doing shows and did holiday window displays with her puppets for Macy’s, Lord and Taylor and Bonwit Tellers. She did all the woodcarving, metal work, fabric work and painting for all her marionettes and their staging. We crossed paths in 1980 and it was love at first sight. The head on this piece is one of her creations as well as the arms and hands that she carved and made the moveable joints. She was one of the most creative, innovative and childlike artists that I ever met. I was her confidant, her assistant and her friend. She referred to me as her dark angel. She passed away in 1994.