WHO I AM

Who I am and what I create

My name is Stefania Morgante and my job is also my passion. I love to create Dolls to collect, Witches of good wish, Angels, Teddy Bears and Bears, Fairies and Elves, papier-mâché puppets, Santa Claus, but also sweaters and knitted or crocheted bags, wooden and synthetic paste decorative buttons, Pins created with Fimo, cross-stitch pillows, little shoes for babies, ideas for goods wishing presents; and I still have many sketches and many ideas that are shaping, such as wallhangings that decorates the house walls, a line of cross-stitch schemes or online decorative technique lessons.

I’ve studied at the Artistic Liceo of Lecce, then I went to the University of Bologna, DAMS, where I took my bachelor in Teoria delle forme (theories of Shapes) in 1992.

During my studies I used to paint and sculpture and, between a book and another, I used to wear sweaters and purses that I created…until I ran into the internet and I found out the dollmakers world, a receptive, curious, and full of enthusiasm universe, and I’ve started to get the first important awards.

Some American friends of mine pushed me to open my laboratory. Gufobardo (Gufo in Italian means owl), because the owl is the symbol of longevity and wisdom and I want to give my clients the firmness of a dream of infancy and the will of collect something that leaves a sign, that is not linked to the fashion tendencies of the moment.

In my creations I love the imperfection, you will never see symmetries: I love to give shape to a thought, but I also love to leave people with the doubt that things are not properly like they seem to be…. I start with a journey, a chit, a sketch, a fabric taken in a market or maybe a cloth bought years before, a photo, a movie. I’m very interested to “confusing” effect: to make the papier-mâché to look like wood, to get porcelain effects, make the gypsum old as if it was bronze.
Every object I make, reflects my studies and my experiences.

After University I collaborated with the cultural page of some newspapers. I took care of the public relationships for some theaters. I’ve also taught Drawing and Art history in the secondary schools and in some courses about tourism. Then I decided to reflect and I asked myself: what do I want to do? This is how my activity was born, it joins fantasy, technology and the tradition of the artistic creation with the desire of realizing my dreams.

With my objects I try to transmit equilibrium and well-being, it is exciting knowing that a small piece of your world will heat up a home, will bring a smile and colors to a faraway home!

(the parts in italics are taken from one of my articles published in the Bacchetta Magica n°45/April 2004)