Photo: Ben Wheeler
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ArtisansConnection Is At The Heart Of This Chicago Weaver’s Works
Fiber artist Bryana Bibbs spins and weaves textiles into wall hangings dripping with a kaleidoscope of yarns, a craft she learned while pursuing her degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A survivor of domestic abuse, Bibbs makes art to think through and document experiences as well as connect with others. “I make things to process life,” she says. “I don’t make things and hope it sells; I’m more excited about the personal connection to people.”
Describe your work. At first, I created large-scale pieces, but during the pandemic I was unable to go to my studio, so I began working on smaller weavings measuring around 10 inches by 15 inches. I see the smaller works as a documentation of current experiences, much like a journal, while the larger ones, which are about 6 feet tall, are more about my past.
What is your process like? I start by carding the wool, a technique in which the individual fibers are separated and straightened. Then I spin the wool into yarn on a spinning wheel. From there, I weave onto a frame loom. These fiber processes are cathartic for me because I am sharing experiences about my past by using textures, colors and objects to tell a story.
How does your art help you connect with others? I host free weaving workshops through The We Were Never Alone Project, which I founded to allow others to have conversations about domestic violence. The workshops are composed of a small, intimate group of women and nonbinary genders and are typically offered concurrently during exhibitions of my work. The most important thing about the workshops is to feel a sense of community and realize that we were never alone in the situation. They allow people to feel heard and understood and walk away with artwork they are proud to have created.
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