ep. 026: Artist Exploration/Bisa Butler

We all hit roadblocks in life from time-to-time, where the once-familiar becomes untenable and we recognize that life as we know it is no more. These are the moments in which we often crumble, and although the crumbling might be inevitable, we end up with a choice: we can resign ourselves or we can take the pieces and build something new.

Bisa Butler’s “pivot or die” moment occurred when the medium she was trained in became nauseating. She accepted the invitation into the inventive unknown and did something risky and controversial by choosing quilting as her new medium for fine art.

A Black woman asserting that domestic labor is a fine art is a bold move, but ultimately a redemptive one. Bisa takes the term “arts and crafts” and reminds us that we often view this phrase as derogatory, but that there is true skill and resonance in the artful crafting of materials.

In this episode learn about Bisa’s resilience in the face of roadblocks and criticism, her insistence to follow her intuition, and her work in empowering the next generation.

Amy Elizabeth is an artist and film photographer living in Minneapolis, MN. She runs the group The Art Lab for creatives who want to connect and push forward in their artistry. She is also the owner/operator of Film Lab 135, a bespoke lab dedicated to processing experimental film, and specializing in film soup. You can find her on Instagram, substack, and bluesky @itsamyliz.