Pin People
Rita Chiavacci
USA

In this set the habitual representatives of the nativity event are in good and richly varied company. We have a cross-section of many aspects of American life and culture. Indians greet Amish, the UPS man holds hands with the Post mistress. The Wizard dispatched some of his most faithful followers, Dorothy and the Witch. Scarlet and Rhett are not gone with the wind, but join in with Uncle Sam, the square dancers and a lonely clown. Public life is represented with a sheriff, a state trooper and navy, marine and air force personnel. Santa, toy soldiers and carolers remind us of different ways to celebrate Christmas. Even Our Lady of Fatima is part of the colorful gathering.

Pin people, made of old rounded clothespins, snippets of fabric and pipe cleaners, are simple people. They are a reminder of life's ordinariness. Pin people are dressed up clothespins, no more, no less. Behind our many faces and checkered individualities there is the simple and ordinary myself. To forget this would make us lesser selves. Remembering it is healing power.