“Through book arts, sculpture and textiles, I construct narratives and a visible representation of history. Art gives me tools to form stories for generations to come.”
IBé Crawley
IBe’ Bulinda H. Crawley, born 1959 in Danville, Virginia, was trained to stitch and sew by her mother and grandmothers. IBè later taught herself to carve stone and wood. She added clay, dollmaking and papermaking, before adventuring into printmaking.
IBè Crawley renovated an 1830s school building, originally built by enslaved black men. It was originally used for the purpose of educating white males on the Epps plantation in Hopewell, Virginia. It has evolved into The IBe’ Arts Institute, a repository for Crawley’s work, which includes carved marble, wooden assemblages, paper and print, as well as quilted narratives.
IBe’ Arts Institute invites fellows, interns and creative-partners to participate in discovering and documenting voices that educate future generations. Collaboration is foundational to IBé Crawley’s studio practice. Whether in residency or in her studio Crawley is energized by being in fellowship with other creatives.
The work I create focuses on colored women, girls and their communities. The fragility of freedom as a state of being and the humanity that I represent in my one-of-a kind books and book editions include letterpress, handmade paper, sculptures, and print making.
The archival research adds to the narrative and structure of the books. As a professional storyteller, my book-work looks at past and current events. My process, my projects, and finished pieces evolve slowly and thoughtfully.
IBé Crawley 