Bisa Butler

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast we are celebrating our 200th episode with Bisa Butler, a talented textile artist schooling us in the beautiful intricacies of Black possibility. Bisa’s work showcases historical images of Black life from the early 20th century in a multisensory format, incorporating fabrics, the feeling of the music that she’s listening to as she creates, and playlists that accompany her art to make that experience accessible to the viewer. Bisa shares the inspiration, techniques, and meaning behind some of Lisa’s favorite pieces, along with what she hopes to communicate through her art and the material of the fabric itself. They discuss why the missing piece in Ken’s wardrobe was a pair of tweed pants, their experiences as children seeing moments captured in black and white photography and film, and what it meant as a Black artist to study at Howard University, the alma mater of legendary geniuses like Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison. PATREON SUPPORTERS get video access to this beautiful and powerful episode.