Whimsical and Provocative: The World of Microbarbi - Her Imagination, Her Art

Written by Anni Weden, President, Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area

Vibrant, colorful, playful: such words could be used to describe Microbarbi's work at first glance. Many of her clay sculptures and cloth figures could be puppets in a play meant to please children. But, if one is left to linger before the “Bodos” and “Rene,” more layers of meaning emerge. The array of fantastical characters will bring you down the rabbit hole, into the imagination of Barbara Carreño (aka, Microbarbi), where it could be said that her own version of Alice's Wonderland takes a fantastical form that would surprise even the Mad Hatter and his cadre of misfits joining him for that preposterous tea party. “They are all about the emotions,” says Barbi, with a faraway look in her eyes. And then with a laugh she remembers, “I was so surprised that everyone loved my characters right away, when I first began creating them in Venezuela!”

The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area is fortunate to be able to present the toy art of Microbarbi in an exhibit entitled, A Peek Into the Unusual Imagination of Microbarbi; An Exhibit Featuring her Fantastical Creations and Highlighting Rare Local Antique Toy Collections. The opening is at 204 Church Street in Phoenixville from 6:00 to 9:00 PM on Friday, October 6th, and those who attend the opening will receive a special pass to the exclusive wine and cheese after-party at the Colonial Theatre.

Barbi Carreño was born in Venezuela just before the politically turbulent times; her mother hailed from England and her father owned a local manufacturing company. She learned English from the American children's Disney Channel shows, and this sparked her creativity, even at a young age. Upon entering college she gained a degree in graphic design and was soon sought after by local companies who were impressed by her creative imagery and unique designs.

With a continued passion for sculpture she began producing her small, colorful creatures, some of which she named “Bodos” (a shortened version of the Spanish “bodoque,” which means, “little bundle”) to sell at craft shows and art exhibitions in Venezuela. She would place the Bodos in tiny bottles and attach a chain, and sell them as necklaces. Children and adults alike fell in love with these small, quirky beings. Soon she was getting commissions from enthusiasts to make characters representing actual people, relatives, and friends. She even designed a series of miniature figurines for wedding cakes! And so, with the characters of this tiny world multiplying into a sort of micro-world, Microbarbi was born.

With a passion for adventure, and to further her craft, Barbi traveled to Barcelona to attend a college course focused on toy art, which had begun to rapidly take hold of the interest of the European set. There, with an entrepreneurial spirit, she began seeking out galleries which would display and sell her work, and many excited gallery owners embraced the art of Microbarbi.

She eventually made her way across the pond to the States where she has seen continued success, and has expanded her knowledge and realm of creativity further by learning a diverse set of fabrication techniques at Drexel University. It was here also where she met her true love, John Puhalski, a musician who can be seen in the rock and jazz circuits of Philly.

Her toy art has been on display at COLAB "for kids only," Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Philadelphia, International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), NYC; “Tayner Boy, Custom Toy Show” at Sho Bcn, Spain Gallery, (a full year exhibition of custom toys) and “Kamaleon, Art and object from Barcelona,” in Bcn, Spain. Images of her work have been published in a variety of media, including The Book of Characters, which features many artists worldwide and is distributed throughout Europe.

Barbi says of her work, “Very few people know that inside each of us there are infinite worlds full of life, ideas, feelings, things, talent, desire, and of course, living beings. These inhabitants have their own cities, their own forms and personalities. The creatures you see in Microbarbi are among the many inhabitants of that world full of life and emotions. Each of them shows their personalities to the surface, with colors, costumes and the most common of all the dancing spiral overhead like the Bodo’s have. In this spiral, they show proudly what makes them happy every day. They choose us to share that happiness, which is seemingly infinite.”

Microbarbi invites one and all to experience imagination at the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area in this special exhibit.

Barbi's latest creative project is the METÚ (mask). She represents the beginning of a new era of Microbarbi: she is the Goddess of self respect, self forgiveness and self love. This is what Barbara Carreño believes is so very important, especially in today's world. She says, "It's a mask that means to love your self, your ideas, and your creativity, no matter what."

Also on display during this show, which runs through December 2017, are rare local collections of toys. One collection includes circus themed toys, on loan from Bob Momyer, who traveled with The Greatest Show on Earth as Assistant Dean of Clown College. In addition, rare toys of yesteryear on loan from David Meadows will be displayed for viewing. His wife, Susan, is a well known Phoenixville resident who owns and operates Generations toy store on Main Street in Phoenixville. Both are avid antique toy enthusiasts.

Exhibit Opening Information:

A Peek into The Unusual Imagination of Microbarbi
An Exhibit Featuring Her Fantastical Creations
And Highlighting Rare Local Antique Toy Collections

WHEN: Friday, October 6, 2017 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

WHERE: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area, 204 Church St, Phoenixville, PA 19460

Attendees at the opening will receive a special pass to the exclusive wine and cheese after-party at the Colonial Theatre.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT