Germantown-based artist Emily "EMYO" Ozier will celebrate the release of her debut children's picture book, Marisol's Dress, at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens on Nov. 17 at 5:30 pm. Guests can enjoy Cuban fun and food, art, book readings, a Q&A session, children’s paper doll activities, and more.
Published by Blue Balloon Books, an imprint of Ballast Books, Marisol’s Dress features EMYO’s colorful, impressionistic art. The book’s original artwork is on display in the museum's Mallory/Wurtzburger galleries from November through January 2023.
Inspired by the true story of EMYO's family, the book tells the timely tale of her mother and grandparents’ emigration from Cuba to America during the Cuban Revolution. It is about a young girl, Marisol, who is forced to give up her life as she knows it and flee to a new country.
She is also forced to leave behind her prized possessions, bringing only one doll and her favorite white dress. As Marisol grapples and fights to adapt to her new life, she finds strength in her creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness. She creates colorful paper dolls that not only fill her empty room, but also her heart.
“[Marisol's Dress] resonates with all ages and tugs at the imaginations of young minds," EMYO states in a press release. "My hope is that this book helps foster children's curiosity about others' stories while also finding courage to face their own hardships. This is a story from the past. But I'd like people to see that refugees are a part of our communities’ story in the present too."
The pre-orders of Marisol’s Dress through EMYO’s website will also receive a complimentary “Squeeze the Day '' PDF, which is a curated collection of delicious Cuban recipes and child-friendly lemon projects. The book can also be ordered nationwide through Target, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and select art galleries on Nov. 22, 2022.
For more info on EMYO, visit emyoart.com/