I stopped by Gallery U today, but first I got all spiffed up in a kimono. Being the incredibly humble artist that I am, I made a beeline for my own work before even glancing at the other works. I was glad to see my Kokeshi were in a good spot, but the overall level was so high, though proud to be in such esteemed company, I'm not sure how I measure up. Let's look at some of the dolls I thought were extremely cool. These dolls by Etsuko Kurimori really show off the beauty of the wood and incorporate a fresh, natural style. I love the damaged schoolgirl motif and also the style used here, which while tackling popular manga/anime tropes uses a clean, original style. The animals held by the girls are great additions Of the figures here by Masaya Miyashita, the Nature one really caught my eye, but I'm a sucker for moon motifs as well. Speaking of moon motifs, these three moon dolls by Tomoko Miyakawa are just gorgeous. I love the deep blue and how t...