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Mark
From 2013–2017, Amber Hawk Swanson attended an annual event called Dollstock, a gathering of doll husbands and dolls. Dollstock happened in the same hunting lodge in rural Pennsylvania for many years until moving to a large cabin in rural Maryland in 2017. The title of the event refers to the music festival Woodstock as well as stock photography. On the final evening of every Dollstock, doll husbands participate in a ritual titled Dollpile during which dolls are arranged—one at a time—into an elaborately staged and sensual pile. It is sometimes the case that desires to be the material of silicone or desires to dress in the clothing purchased for dolls come up in conversation during preparations for Dollpile.

[Two hands hold each other while jointly cupping the silicone breast of a white, life-sized silicone Doll. The bottom hand is that of a Brown silicone Doll and has a french tip manicure. The hand on top is that of a white Organik human and has red nails and a diamond shaped tattoo along the wrist. The face of the Doll is slightly out of focus, but her light brown hair and blue eyes are still visible. She lies on a striped rug. A black article of clothing is pulled down at her waist.] [A corner of a room is lit with a fluorescent light bar and hanging string lights. From right to left, upholstered and wooden seats are aligned against wooden walls. A replica of a blue swordfish hangs above a loom and next to three scythes: two are arranged in an X shape while a third and smaller scythe hangs above them. Beneath the blades hangs a mirror. In the reflection is white silicone Doll in black lingerie. In her background are similar wooden walls, a piano, a foosball table, and a taxidermied black bear wearing a Santa hat standing on its hind legs in front of a doorway.]


Photographs by Renato Velarde and Amber Hawk Swanson





Timelapse recorded by doll husband Jesse. Faces blurred to maintain anonymity.
Mark