Brianna Bernas Numb, 2023 (8” x 12”); Graphite pencil on paper
Artist Statement
Fear and uncertainty cast an imposing shadow, but I find regrowth and transformation in glimpses of light. I weave stories from scraps, often looking to the body and nature for symbols of adaptability and strength. My passion for understanding how the trauma of the past shapes our present on our planet and within our own personal histories drives me to create art that challenges notions of resilience and what it means to be “soft,” “emotional,” and “delicate” in the face of hardship.
As a fiber artist I focus primarily on weaving, dyeing, and felting, the materiality of textiles allowing bits of fabric and loose fiber to be manipulated like strokes of paint, dyes to be applied like watercolors. Creating wearable art and molding feelings into color and soft forms acts as a shield from difficult emotions and a conduit for hope in darkness. The act of physically forming a piece of cloth from scratch, creating life through only threads or tufts of wool, breathes into me empowerment, healing, and a deeper appreciation of everyday objects and the humanity they hold in each stitch.
I recognize that although the world around me, including myself, is ever evolving, constantly being either ripped at the seams or struggling to be pieced back together, we are all uniquely ourselves because of each fracture. The people, places, and objects that are cracked but not shattered are where the most vulnerability, but also the most beauty, lies.
Biography
Brianna Bernas holds an Art and Design B.F.A. in Fibers and Art History and was a member of the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program at SUNY Buffalo State University.
Her work spans a vast variety of mediums, ranging from weaving, wet felting, needle felting, dyeing, sewing, screen printing, pencil and pen and ink drawing, painting, and mixed media sculpture. By combining skill sets in each field of study and learning new techniques and new mediums, she is constantly growing as an artist. Through highlighting social injustices, drawing connections between the past and present, and depicting themes related to nature or her personal experiences, she sees strength and beauty in the places, people, and experiences that are perfectly unique because of each crack or mend in their seams. The act of physically forming a piece of cloth or any other art object from scratch, building a living story through only threads or tufts of wool, is healing, empowering, and allows us to form a deeper appreciation of everyday objects around us.
She is a recipient of numerous artistic and academic awards, including the Dorothy Zautner Buley Weaving Fellowship, Dr. Margaret E. Bacon Best in Studio Award, and Nancy Belfer Fiber Design Scholarship at Buffalo State University. Her historical research on Late Medieval and Early Renaissance tapestry weaving techniques has been supported by grants allowing her to study tapestries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her dedication to understanding the importance of textiles and other art forms in the context of sociopolitical events as well as the personal emotional stories behind their creation and tumultuous lives has inspired her to pursue a future in textile conservation.
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, her work has been displayed at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo Arts Studio, Hallwalls, Buffalo Book Arts Center, and can frequently be seen at the Czurles-Nelson Gallery. Her work is in the collection of the Burchfield Penney Art Center as well as private collections.