Bisa Butler via Matrix

I CURATE

Bisa Butler

VIA THE INTEGRATED GLOBAL
CREATIVE ECONOMY

inspired by
THE GRAPEVINE TELEGRAPH
of Pre-Civil War African-Americans

promulgated by
The Brazilian Ministry of Culture

fomented by
The Bahian Secretary of Culture

fomented by
The Palmares Foundation
for the promotion of Afro-Brazilian Culture

fomented by
The National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples

Network Node

Name: Bisa Butler
City/Place: Newark, New Jersey
Country: United States

CURATION

from this node by: Matrix

Life & Work

Bio: In my work I am telling the story— The African American side— of this American life. History is the story of men and women but the narrative is controlled by those who hold the pen.

My community has been marginalized for hundreds of years. While we have been right beside our white counterparts experiencing and creating history our contributions and very perspectives have been ignored, unrecorded and lost. Only a few years ago that it was acknowledged that the white house was built by slaves. Right there in the seat of power of our country, African Americans were creating and contributing but who knew who these people were and what their names were. These unacknowledged African Americans had stories, families although they were not considered or treated as equals.

My subjects are African Americans from ordinary walks of life who who may have sat for a formal family portrait or may have been documented by a passing photographer.

These unknown stories fascinate me. I feel these people; I know these stories because I have grown up with them my whole life. I know about my grandmother’s birth at home in Plaquemine Parish, Louisiana; I know about my Aunt Sheila whose family left Mississippi for Chicago in the 1940s; I know about my own father who left Ghana in 1960 with a scholarship to study in the United States and had a suitcase with one shirt and one pair of pants in it. I know the pride in hard work and the dignity of these people because they are my people. I can imagine their lives because they are me and I am them. I grew up listening to the tales of my elders and I heard about what it felt like to be cold and hungry but we still have love and family.

I have a degree from Howard University, a Historically Black University in Washington D.C that was founded when America was segregated by race. Education was looked at as a pathway to a brighter future . The historically black colleges educated the first doctors, lawyers and professionals in this country and to this day graduate more African American professionals than any of the other colleges in this country. It is at Howard that I was taught by the AfriCOBRA ( The African Commune of Bad and Relevant Artists) founders like Jeff Donaldson who was my Dean of Fine Arts, and Frank Smith and Wadswoth Jarell who were professors. We were taught to be proud of our African Heritage and to always present our people in a positive light. They taught us that we had a responsibility to document and correct the misinformation that had been told about our people, and about Africa. We were to use our art as a tool to tell our side of the story to the masses and the mainstream.

I quilt because this was the technique that was taught to me at home. I could sew before I ever painted on a canvas. My mother and grandmother while not quilters sewed garments almost every day. African Americans have been quilting since we were brought to this country and needed to keep warm. Enslaved people were not given large pieces of fabric and had to make do with the scraps of cloth that were left after clothing wore out. With these bits of cloth African American quilts displayed . My own pieces are reminiscent of this tradition but I use African fabrics from my father’s homeland of Ghana, batiks from Nigeria, and prints from South Africa. My subjects are adorned with and made up of the cloth of our ancestors. If these visages are to be recreated and seen for the first time in a century I want them to have their African ancestry back, I want them to take their rightful place in American history. I want the viewer to see the subjects as I see them.

I feel driven to tell my side of the story---that African Americans have a lot to be proud of; that we take care and love our children; that we believe in family; we value education; we work hard and we belong here. Every human being is equal and I hope people see that when they view my work. A billionaire has no more or no less value than someone who sweeps floors. We are all in this together and until we know both sides of the story, our history will be incomplete.

I hope people view my work and feel the value and equality of all people. By presenting all of my figures with a richness and dignity they deserve whether they are from a humble background or the upper classes. All of my pieces are done in life scale to invite the viewer to engage in a dialogue— the figures all look the viewers directly in their eyes.

I am inviting a reimagining and a contemporary dialogue about age old issues that are still problematic in our culture through the comforting embracing medium of the quilt. I am expressing what I believe; the equal value of all humans.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 862-930-6878

Media | Markets

▶ Twitter: bisabutler
▶ Instagram: bisabutler
▶ Website: http://www.bisabutler.com
▶ YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UChiXKOiBA9E_rGB8kuWqYuw
▶ Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/playlist/6kNwrAaFkLt0d7lmQkHcDK
▶ Article: http://www.npr.org/2021/08/15/1025950962/black-lives-are-celebrated-in-bisa-butlers-extraordinary-technicolor-quilts
▶ Article 2: http://www.essence.com/entertainment/only-essence/essence-unveils-first-ever-quilt-artwork-cover-marking-the-year-that-changed-the-world/
▶ Article 3: http://time.com/guardians-of-the-year-2020-racial-justice-organizers
▶ Articles: http://www.bisabutler.com/press

Clips (more may be added)

0:07:08
Artist Bisa Butler on creating new narratives through "portrait quilts"
By Bisa Butler

100 views
4:59
Bisa Butler: Portraits | Exhibition Stories
By Bisa Butler

158 views
5:52
Bisa Butler: In the Studio (Quilting for the Culture)
By Bisa Butler

137 views
1:16
Bisa Butler_signature style video
By Bisa Butler

157 views
5:52
Quilting for the Culture, Bisa Butler
By Bisa Butler

145 views

Bisa Butler Curated (bridges in)

What's Been Happening?

Anthony Hamilton → Soul has been recommended via Bisa Butler.
- October 12, 2021
Anthony Hamilton → Singer-Songwriter has been recommended via Bisa Butler.
- October 12, 2021
Anthony Hamilton → Record Producer has been recommended via Bisa Butler.
- October 12, 2021
Anthony Hamilton → R&B has been recommended via Bisa Butler.
- October 12, 2021
Anthony Hamilton → Los Angeles has been recommended via Bisa Butler.
- October 12, 2021
A category was added to Bisa Butler:

Pan-African Culture
- October 12, 2021
A category was added to Bisa Butler:

Black American Culture & History
- October 12, 2021
A video was posted re Bisa Butler:

Artist Bisa Butler on creating new narratives through "portrait quilts"
Artist Bisa Butler has been called a modern-day Griot – but instead of using words to tell stories, she uses stitches and cloth. Her quilts have graced the covers of magazines and she created the striking illustration for the soon-to-be-released book "Unb...
- October 12, 2021
A video was posted re Bisa Butler:

Bisa Butler: Portraits | Exhibition Stories
The exhibition is co-organized by the Art Institute of Chicago and the Katonah Museum of Art.
- October 12, 2021
A video was posted re Bisa Butler:

Bisa Butler: In the Studio (Quilting for the Culture)
Step into the studio of artist Bisa Butler as she discusses her background and artistic process. Her exhibition, Bisa Butler: Portraits is currently on view (virtually) at the Katonah Musuem of Art. Butler is more than just an amazing artist, she is a bea...
- October 12, 2021
A video was posted re Bisa Butler:

Bisa Butler_signature style video
Video courtesy @sok.vision A look at the unique practice of artist Bisa Butler as she creates her portrait quilts. Her process draws upon her background as an African American of Ghanaian descent, evident in her choice of motifs, embellishments and patte...
- October 12, 2021
A video was posted re Bisa Butler:

Quilting for the Culture, Bisa Butler
We had the honor of filming our friend, textile artist Bisa Bulter. She is more than just an amazing artist, she is a beautiful person with a tremendous heart for her people.
- October 12, 2021
A category was added to Bisa Butler:

Textile Artist
- October 12, 2021
A category was added to Bisa Butler:

Quilts
- October 12, 2021
Bisa Butler is matrixed!
- October 12, 2021

English (Portuguese →)

THE INTEGRATED GLOBAL CREATIVE ECONOMY

Humanity has never had this before.

"I am thrilled to receive your email! Thank you for including me in this wonderful matrix."
✅—Susan Rogers
Personal recording engineer: Prince, Paisley Park
Director: Music Perception & Cognition Laboratory, Berklee College of Music
Author: This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You

The matrix was born in Salvador's Centro Histórico, where Bule Bule below sings, among magisterial colleagues for whom this matrix was originally built, "Chegou a hora dessa gente bronzeada mostrar seu valor... The time has come for these bronzed people to show their worth..."

Music & lyrics (Brasil Pandeiro) by Assis Valente of Santo Amaro, Bahia. Video by Betão Aguiar

The matrix provides a means by which those above, those below, and EVERYBODY ELSE in the creative economy can be divulged everywhere. Something new under the sun.

Quincy Jones can curate Gilberto Gil, for example. And Gil can curate, writers, dancers, filmmakers, painters, record producers, set designers...

And by the mathematics of the small world phenomenon, everybody in the matrix will tend to proximity to everybody else, in the same way that most human beings are within some six or so steps of most others.

The difference being that in the matrix, these steps are along pathways that can be travelled. The creative world becomes a neighborhood. Quincy Jones is right up the street and Branford Marsalis around the corner. And the most far-flung genius you've never heard of is just a few doors down. Maybe even in Brazil. Laroyê!

"Matrixado!"

✅—Founding Member Darius Mans
Economist, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
✅—Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President of Brazil

"Many thanks for this - I am touched!"
✅—Julian Lloyd Webber
That most fabled cellist in the United Kingdom (and Brazilian music fan)

"I'm truly thankful... Sohlangana ngokuzayo :)"
✅—Nduduzo Makhathini
Blue Note recording artist)

"Thanks, this is a brilliant idea!!"
✅—Alicia Svigals
Founder of The Klezmatics

"This is super impressive work ! Congratulations ! Thanks for including me :)))"
✅—Clarice Assad
Compositions recorded by Yo Yo Ma and played by orchestras around the world

"Thank you"
(Banch Abegaze, manager)
✅—Kamasi Washington

Tap people, tap categories, tap curations... The matrix is a maze of tunnels within King Solomon's mines.

(← Inglês) Português

A ECONOMIA CRIATIVA GLOBAL INTEGRADA

A humanidade nunca teve isso antes.

"Fico muitíssimo feliz em receber seu e-mail! Obrigada por me incluir neste matrix maravilhoso."
✅—Susan Rogers
Engenheiro de gravação pessoal para Prince: Paisley Park
Diretora: Laboratório de Percepção e Cognição Musical, Berklee College of Music
Autora: This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You

O matrix nasceu no Centro Histórico de Salvador, onde Bule Bule abaixo canta, entre colegas magisteriais para quem este matrix foi originalmente construído, "Chegou a hora dessa gente bronzeada mostrar seu valor..."

Música & letras (Brasil Pandeiro) por Assis Valente de Santo Amaro, Bahia. Vídeo por Betão Aguiar

O matrix fornece um meio pelo qual os acima, os abaixo e TODOS OS OUTROS na economia criativa podem ser divulgados em todos os lugares. Algo novo sob o sol.

Quincy Jones pode indicar Gilberto Gil, por exemplo. E Gil pode indicar escritores, dançarinos, cineastas, pintores, produtores de discos, cenógrafos...

E pela matemática do fenômeno de mundo pequeno, todos no matrix tenderão a se aproximar de todos, da mesma forma que a maioria dos seres humanos estão dentro de cerca de seis passos da maioria dos outros.

Com a diferença que no matrix, estes passos estão ao longo de caminhos que podem ser percorridos. O mundo criativo se torna uma vizinhança. Quincy Jones está lá em cima e Branford Marsalis está ao virar da esquina. E o gênio distante que você nunca ouviu falar tá lá embaixo. Talvez até no Brasil. Laroyê!

"Matrixado!"

✅—Membro Fundador Darius Mans
Economista, doutorado, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
✅—Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Presidente do Brasil

"Muito obrigado por isso - estou tocado!"
✅—Julian Lloyd Webber
Estamos tocados também Sr. Webber!
Merecidamente o violoncelista mais lendário do Reino Unido (e fã da música brasileira)

"Estou realmente agradecido... Sohlangana ngokuzayo :)"
✅—Nduduzo Makhathini
Artista da Blue Note)

"Obrigada, esta é uma ideia brilhante!!"
✅—Alicia Svigals
Fundadora do The Klezmatics

"Este é um trabalho super impressionante! Parabéns! Obrigada por me incluir :)))"
✅—Clarice Assad
Composições gravadas por Yo Yo Ma e tocadas por orquestras ao redor do mundo

"Thank you"
(Banch Abegaze, empresário)
✅—Kamasi Washington

Toque em pessoas, toque em categorias, toque em curadoria... O matrix é um labirinto de túneis dentro das minas do rei Salomão.