Sept. 21-24, Oklahoma City
By Allison Hernández
The Modern Doll Collectors Convention (MDCC) began as a Vogue Ginny convention in Lakeland, Florida, in 1979. Now in its 44th year, MDCC has expanded to include a fantastic array of contemporary doll artists and manufacturers in an annual convention that’s held in various parts of the continental USA.
For each convention, MDCC contracts with about a dozen artists to create limited-edition event and seminar dolls and centerpieces as applicable, which are offered for sale to attendees and absentees alike. The convention also features workshops, programs, a robust salesroom, and other free-to-attendees events. The convention is topped off with a gala banquet featuring our convention artist on Saturday night.
This year, MDCC will be held at the historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City, with the theme Tell Me A Story. Festivities kick off with the traditional Welcome Lunch, where the convention doll is distributed — this year the convention doll is Ginger by Connie Lowe, a member of the Stella family. Other meal events at this year’s show have been sponsored by Kish & Co., Meadow Dolls, Atelier Momoni, Judy Porter, Boneka, Bbflockling, Japanese doll company Licca Chan, Little Darling, and The Trinket Box.
The salesroom is always a huge draw an any show. Other highlight events at MDCC include workshops, a seminar on Korean doll company Darak Dolls and another by artist Annette Herrmann; a competition day where attendees can enter their dolls based on several different themes; the return of the Smart Doll Swap Meet; and the Stellabration — a celebration of all things Stella!
After Friday’s dinner comes the Funway Runway. This event features Little Darling dolls costumed by generous designers who walk the dolls down the Runway, while our auctioneer Billie Stevens gets the crowd hyped up to bid, with all proceeds going to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
On Saturday, the Artist’s Forum gives attendees the chance to ask artists about their craft. This will be followed by the DOLLS magazine artists’ signing, where attendees will be able to get artists’ autographs in this year’s special Debut of Dolls issue of the magazine.
The final event of the convention is the MDCC Banquet. This year it features convention doll artist Connie Lowe of Marbled Halls and the DOLLS magazine presentation of its Lifetime Achievement Award. It is also one last chance to see all our friends, hug, shed a few tears, and excitedly talk about next year!
MDCC is excited about our future, and we are already planning for next year and our upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. We pride ourselves on presenting dolls for all budgets, introducing new and exciting dolls, and affording collectors the chance to meet their favorite artists and online friends in person. There is nothing quite like hugging a friend you’ve been exchanging photos with all year or seeing a doll in person for the first time. We hope to see you this year in OKC!
