Too Many Cats In The Kitchen

 

    

Too Many Cats In The Kitchen

Christine Shively Benjamin

NIADA has been invited to attend an annual doll event 

called Doll Prague for a number of years. Too Many Cats In 

The Kitchen is a result of the trip that I took to Prague 

in the Fall of 2023.

An eleven year old girl stopped by the NIADA display table

on numerous occasions. She attended the event with her mother, 

and her friend and her mother. She was such an interesting, 

friendly little girl wearing round glasses. Her English was very 

good. Since her mother’s English was not as proficient as her 

daughter’s, her little girl would translate what I was saying

when describing and telling the stories about my dolls. It was

such a wonderful experience to watch her mother’s expression

change as I spun my tales about the fabric creations I had 

on display on the NIADA table.

Each time this little girl stopped by to talk to me about my work,

I learned more about her. She and her mother had fled Ukraine

and were living in the Czech Republic. She was particularly charmed

by one of my dolls, “Cats In The Garden”. She told me she was an 

artist and a writer, and we discussed creativity. She asked me if 

I had eaten goulash while I was visiting Prague. I replied…Indeed 

I have. We began to talk about what would happen if cats tried to 

make goulash. We both agreed that it would be chaos. Strange 

and ridiculous ingredients would be flying about the kitchen. Such a

fun brainstorming exchange of ideas.

On her last visit to talk to me she asked if I would like to see her

artwork. Of course I was honored that she would ask me to see

her little handwritten journal full of her drawings. All of her 

drawings were of women who were either warriors or Superheroes. 

I will never forget my young collaborator who also provided an

unforgettable and unexpected experience in the beautiful city of

                                      Prague.