After becoming disabled, I took early retirement from the corporate world where I had been a criminal investigator. My career enabled me to raise three children, but I never attended to my true calling and passion with my artistic talents. Who would have thought, at the age of 60, my life would start over and turn in a whole new direction.

Coping with depression from my disability, on one of my many visits to the doctor, I passed an art gallery that was showing Altered Barbie Art Work. I spent over an hour examining the work. I talked to the curator who explained that she had asked 50 of her artist friends to create a piece of art work with Barbie as the central character.  Immediately, I was intrigued to explore this as a medium.

I wondered if I could sell this artwork but worried about copyright law. I did research online and confirmed that I would not be in violation as this work is parody.

While raising children, I always shopped thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets looking for treasures and bargains. The idea of shopping for props and putting those recycled props with Barbie (sliced and diced, drawn and quartered) inspired me and I began to create One Of A Kind (OOAK) Barbie Art. I started in August 2006 and to date, have created 300 pieces that run the whole gamut of experiences, conditions, fetishes and surreal expressions. 

Ive received a lot of amazing press in these short 5 years. There have been articles about my work in 8 newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Reuters, I was interviewed on two television talk shows (Sacramento and Vallejo), a radio program (Berkeley, Ca.) and a special interest piece featured on CBS news (San Francisco) along with a Wikipedia entry.

I have a live and work space downtown Vallejo California. According to Newsweek Magazine (Feb. 2011), Vallejo is the second most dying city in the United States next to New Orleans. Last year I averaged just under $20 a week (gross) in sales in Vallejo. While my work is greatly appreciated locally, Vallejo is well known for its dire economy. The downtown area where I show my work is a ghost town. There is more than a 60% vacancy rate and very little foot traffic.

For the last six months my focus has been on building a social network and increasing my online presence. (Blog; Facebook; Tumblr; Linkedin)  While business is growing I miss the interaction with the public.  A common response to my work is; I have never seen anything like this before. Are there other artists who do this kind of work? One of the things I love most about showing my work is that it is entertaining and makes people laugh out loud.

Last year, the Nada Dada Ding Dong (http://www.nadadadadingdong.net) event had over 5,000 visitors from across the United States and various parts of the world and was written up in the New York Times. I have not participated in too many venues that require me to pack and unpack, lift and move because of my disability but I have someone who is willing to take this trip with me and assist me.

I am asking for your assistance to raise $3,500 (which will allow me to take the next step and reach beyond the boundaries of Vallejo, California....) for travel, shipment, accommodations and other expenses, for the Nada Dada Ding Dong event.

LaVonne Sallee', Artist