In today’s conversation, Dario sits with fiber artist and storyteller Bisa Butler. Bisa tells the stories of African heritage and American home through an artistry and craft we all know as quilts. Her use of vibrant color and fine fibers reminds us that intentionality, textile, and choice allows our spirits to be known and rendered as portraits suspended in time and stories never forgotten. 

In this episode we explore themes of investing in your artistry, the universal human spirit, how a successful artist stays grounded, and Dario’s and Bisa’s 90s R&B/Hip Hop inspired handmade teen wardrobe 

Things we mention

Time as a function (and an illusion) of the gregorian calendar

Negritude movement and who are we when ‘universal’ seems to naturally mean white 

James Baldwin, Doom and Glory of Knowing Who You are, Dostoevsky

Bisa’s time studying art at Howard University included investigating the works and lives of 

Alma Thomas

Eizabeth Catlett 

Jacob Lawrence 

Henry Tanner 

Edmonia Lewis 

Gordon Parks 

James VanDerZee

The beauty and genius of El Anatsui 

Episode Playlist and Film List 

A short film (aka video) about time travel as it appeared on Yo! MTV Raps: Here Comes the Hammer by MC Hammer 

Jason’s Lyric 

I’m so Into you by SWV

Ordinary People by John legend 

Bisa Butler on Instagram

All the latest news about Bisa can be found on Bisa’s Linktree 

This conversation was recorded on Jan 6, 2022

Host Dario Calmese 

Producer Carmen D. Harris  

Visual Art Direction and Designs: 

River Wildmen, AfroVisualism, Stephane Lab

Original Music composed by Dario Calmese 

Visit us at blackimagination.com