Alice Hawkins, a photographer, has developed an unusual method for warding off persistent Jehovah’s Witnesses. “They visit every Thursday,” she explains. “So I take out my Dolly Parton book and tell them that Dolly is where I find my sense of belonging, my faith.” While this approach might seem unconventional, Hawkins is entirely serious. Parton was always her favorite, but her devotion deepened after a friend’s suicide left Hawkins in a state of deep distress. To lift her spirits, her husband suggested a trip to Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s sprawling theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
“It felt like I had discovered a spiritual sanctuary, my personal mecca,” Hawkins recalls. “I found a sense of peace. On the drive back, I told my husband, ‘I’m going back there to create something. I’m going to embark on a project.’ It made me feel truly alive.”
This profound personal connection forms the heart of “Holy Pop,” an exhibition that delves into the world of extreme pop fandom. Hawkins’ project, and the exhibition itself, explores how music and its icons can become sources of profound spiritual and emotional solace, transforming ordinary objects and experiences into sacred relics. The exhibition showcases a fascinating array of superfan memorabilia, including items like leaves from Dolly Parton’s garden, a cookie jar shaped like the Yellow Submarine filled with ashes, and even a branch from the tree struck by Marc Bolan’s car.