Fiber artist Christine Hager-Braun creates remarkable works that offer not only beauty but a healing gift as well. Learn more by visiting her website.
“Finding Balance” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 24″ x 24″ x 1.75″
Art and my innate creativity have helped me to recover from my struggle with depression and continue to support my emotional well-being. As a young person, I enjoyed various forms of textile craft such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing garments. The visual and tactile aspects of working with fabric, thread, and yarn were both exciting and soothing for me.
“Graceful Adaptation” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 24” x 18” x 1”
Therefore, it was no surprise that years later I turned to art quilting when I struggled with severe depression. Sewing two pieces of fabric together gave me a sense of accomplishment; focusing on an accurate 1/4-inch seam allowance did not leave space in my mind for negative self-talk; but most importantly, I could express myself visually when I did not have words to describe the pain, darkness and isolation I felt.
“Shared Experiences #2” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 24” x 36” x 1.75”
Due to the stigma of having a mental illness, I suffered in silence. I felt ashamed and guilty for not being good enough. But while cutting and sewing fabric, I could push my worries aside and find respite in my creative process.
“With-nessing #2” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 24” x 36” x 1.75”
Fast forward twenty years. I am in a much healthier and happier place and most importantly, I am no longer silent. I have become an outspoken advocate to normalize the dialogue around mental illness through my art and artist talks as I consider fiber a soft, non-threatening medium for a hard, challenging conversation.
“There and Then, Here and Now” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads) 18” x 18” x 0.25”
What started out as art about my personal experience with depression has grown into a much bigger goal: sharing the narratives of others, their approaches to coping, their forms of inner strength, their tenacity and dedication to step out of darkness and silence or help loved ones to do so.
“Impermanence #2” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 16” x 16” x 1.75”
It is a great honor that visitors to my studio have the courage to be vulnerable and share their difficult experiences: loss and grief, mental health issues, chronic illnesses or invisible disabilities. They reveal the countless obstacles and profound challenges they face, but also the small successes and enormous milestones that provide reason to celebrate. Despite heartbreaking pain and immeasurable sorrow, their narratives are also evident of unshakeable resilience, enduring hope, and genuine compassion for one another.
“It Takes Courage” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 36” x 24” x 1.75”
As an artist I capture their perseverance, courage and empathy through the choice of colors, the juxtaposition of light and dark, the irregularity of the shapes’ outlines, or the fragmentation of the lines. The orderly arrangement of the lines offers structure and stability when the ups and downs can change rapidly each day.
“Shared Experiences #3” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 24” x 24” x 1.75”
In my work I deliberately embrace the imperfections of daily life, use the mosaic-like assemblage of individual experiences to form a universal story and emphasize the presence of light even in perceived darkness.
Artist Christine Hager-Braun with “Exhuberance” fiber (cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton and polyester threads, mounted on stretched canvas) 36” x 24” x 1.75”
The viewers’ openness inspires new ideas, and their interpretation of my art lets me see my work from a point of view I had not considered before. Best of all, our honest conversations allow us to see and hear each other, and to recognize we are not alone. I hope my story inspires others to engage in art and use their innate creativity as a form of self-care.
Christine Hager-Braun invites you to follow on Facebook and Instagram.
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