21c Museum Hotel Chicago is pleased to present Unforeseen, a solo exhibition of select Journal Series weavings from Winter 2023 by Bryana Bibbs. 

The journals were made a month before her grandfather (Papa George) passed on December 18, 2023. Along with her mom, Bibbs stayed at her grandparents' home to assist her Papa George, hoping he would get better. Unable to create new materials, Bibbs journaled using found objects from her grandparents' backyard, her Mema's pantry, her Mema's sewing tins, and hand-spun wool that Bibbs had previously made.   

In the Journal Series weavings, Bibbs intuitively documents her personal experiences using materials, colors, and textures. She makes her yarn using the traditional textile techniques of hand-carding and hand-spinning before hand-weaving them on her frame loom, and she incorporates collected found objects. 

Statement: My Papa George always biked, went to the gym, played tennis, and was overall an athletic person. When I was smaller, he used to take me to the park across the street so I could learn how to play tennis, roller skate, ride a bike, and use a kite. The older my Papa George got he still went to the gym, but stopped going to the gym when my Mema was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

I never thought I would see my Papa George in the way that I did last year. The journals on view were created after my grandfather had taken a fall, and my mom and I stayed at the house to assist him and my Mema. These journals were different. 

I never knew how long I would work on the Journal Series when they began in 2020. And I never thought the journals' would document my life and my family's in every aspect. Typically, journaling can be finished for hours straight or in a few days. But these journals are different. They hold more weight and memories and are made inconsistently compared to the others. However, the objects in the journals highlight happier times, like when my Mema made Alfredo pasta and used those baking cups. But the journals are also a reminder of how hopeful, difficult, and sad this time was.

The exhibition will be on view from August 1 - October 31 on the 2nd floor Elevate Gallery.