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VINTAGE BARBIE DOLLS AND BENEFIT AUCTION

10/11/2006 12:22:00 PM -abc 7

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Vintages Barbie Dolls and Benefit AuctionBarbie is the Queen of this month's Chicago Antique Market. Talented Chicago designers have created vintage-inspired fashions for the Icon of Glamour herself. They will showcase one of a kind gowns and accessories at the fist-ever 'Barbie Style show' on Sunday, September 24. World renowned auction house maven Leslie Hindman will auction off the accessorized dolls at on-site at the Market beginning at 1 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to Toys for Tots. Attendees are encouraged to be extra giving and bring one of their own Barbie dolls to be donated to Toys for Tots.

In addition, Barry Sturgill noted Barbie Collector and Doll photographer from Palm Springs, will showcase his impressive collection of vintage Barbie Dolls at the market.

The Indie Designer Fashion Market will also host a "Vintage Glamour" fashion show from noon to 1 p.m. celebrating the best of fashion from the past, present and future. Shoppers will enjoy a break from shopping to see models display the new fashions for fall. Ethel's Chocolate Lounge will be offering free samples of their delicious sweets throughout the day.

This European-style urban indoor-outdoor antique market is held on the last Sunday of each month, May through October on the1300 block of West Randolph Street (between Ada and Ogden) in Chicago's trendy West Loop market district. Market hours are 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Featuring more than 200 quality antique dealers, shoppers will find furnishings, house wares, clothing and collectibles. Additional dealers are located inside Plumber's Hall, 1380 West Randolph St. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children aged 12 or under.

Free trolley transportation to and from the Chicago Antique Market is provided as a courtesy to shoppers. Trolleys depart Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., at the top of each hour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and depart the Market for Water Tower at 30 minutes past the hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Abundant local street parking is available, and a free, secure parking lot can be accessed at Plumbers Hall. For more information call 312-951-9939 or visit www.chicagoantiquemarket.com.

ABOUT BARRY STURGILL

Barry Sturgill is a fifty-something Baby Boomer and professional photographer living in Palm Springs, California, where he shoots portraits, vintage architecture and food photos, plus Barbie and her fellow fashion dolls for various publications. Barry began his "professional relationship" with vintage (pre-1970) Barbie in the mid-80s, and has since become one of the foremost doll and toy photographers in the world.

"I started using the dolls as models when I was in photography school, " he explains. "And I found that most people really reacted to the photos, in a way that was completely amazing."

Over the years, his work has appeared in magazines such as Barbie Bazaar, Haute Doll and Elle, newspaper articles, art gallery shows, collector reference publications, catalogs, coffee table books like Craig Yoe's The Art of Barbie, videos, websites and even a wry documentary film by journalist Susan Stern entitled Barbie Nation.

Often Barry likes to utilize traditional "Hollywood Glamour" lighting techniques, meticulously posing his "models" in tiny, hand-built sets to achieve his own version of classic fashion photography in miniature. He's been dubbed The Richard Avedon of Barbie Photography.

"I really try to make the dolls appear as glamorous and lifelike as possible, without being creepy." he says.

In addition to photography, he's also written over a hundred magazine articles on vintage Barbie and her pals, their wardrobes and related ephemera over the past twenty years, qualifying him as a world-renowned authority on the doll as well.

But when it comes to the doll, Barry likes to keep everything fun, and his work always has a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek slant. "Barbie may be the best-selling doll ever," he says. "And some vintage dolls are now worth really BIG bucks, but after all, it's still a toy."

What does he think of those who blame Barbie for ingraining rampant consumerism and negative body image issues on the world's youth? Mr. Sturgill: "Get a grip. It's a DOLL, not a way of life. Do you think your three-year-old's going to be mentally scarred because she doesn't look like a Cabbage Patch Kid? I don't think so. But on a serious note, I do very strongly believe that Barbie very accurately mirrors American Culture, which does a pretty nifty job of drumming materialism and 'ideal body' garbage into kids, and ADULTS by the way, all by itself. So Barbie's critics are merely condemning the byproduct instead of the actual cause."

Is there anything Barry himself doesn't like about Barbie? "She can't stand up by herself, and she's forever losing her shoes."

MORE ABOUT THE CHICAGO ANTIQUE MARKET

Veteran collectors and casual shoppers alike will discover an enormous array of unique items in all price ranges -- from fun collectibles and costume jewelry, to Juke Boxes, fine furniture, books, architectural artifacts and vintage advertising posters. Other items include glassware, musical instruments, sterling, religious icons, vintage prints, bar accessories, dolls, toys, watches, primitives, trunks, cookware, shaving mugs, pens and much, much more.

The Indie Designer Fashion Market returns to the Chicago Antique Market this year with new, exquisite offerings. This bazaar features top independent designers in Chicago who specialize in blending old traditions and fresh, new designs to create trendsetting original pieces. Shoppers can browse the creations of Monika and Erika Simmons' Double Stitch line, hats by Eia Millinery Design, Mohop Shoes, jewelry by CC Bella, the designs of Lara Miller and more.

It's never too early to embark upon what can become a life long pleasure. This year the Chicago Antique Market will offer a Kid's Corner where children can develop their appreciation for antiquing at a young age. At Kid's Corner children can pick up a treasure map which will help the junior pirates locate great collectibles around the Market such as baseball cards, stamps, teddy bears, buttons, animal figurines, old board games, and other kid friendly items. With signatures from participating dealers, kids can bring the map back to Kid's Corner and redeem for fun prizes from the treasure chest.

Premiering this year is the Antique Market Guide, published in conjunction with the Market. The guide is a user-friendly manual for shoppers to find what they're looking for among the collectibles.

Shoppers can take a break at the new Treasures Cafe, an air-conditioned lounge in Plumbers Hall which serves gourmet coffee drinks, savories and sandwiches all day.

Don't miss the last Chicago Antique Market which culminates with a "Celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright." Regular Market hours are 8 a.m. -- 4 p.m. For those who want to get a jump on the treasure hunting frenzy, early outdoor buying will be available from 7 a.m. for $30.