Swoon

Subterms

    Latest story

    188 Shares101 Views

    ‘No One Knows All It Takes’ Invites Community Healing at the Haggerty Museum of Art

    by

    All images courtesy of Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, shared with permission

    ‘No One Knows All It Takes’ Invites Community Healing at the Haggerty Museum of Art

    September 8, 2025

    ArtColossalPartnerSocial Issues

    Grace Ebert

    Share

    Pin

    Email

    Bookmark

    A core component of the Colossal-curated exhibition, No One Knows All It Takes, is community participation. Each of the artists—Bryana Bibbs, Raoul Deal, Maria Gaspar, and Swoon (previously)—is deeply engaged with the people they portray and collaborate with, a commitment that inspires nuanced, insightful projects and a truly communal process.

    As part of the exhibition at the Haggerty Museum of Art, we’ve considered how to reflect this mode of working through programming and a participatory project. The final piece in the show is Bibbs’ “Weaving Stories,” which consists of a large loom mounted on the gallery wall, along with threads, a paper shredder, and other materials nearby. Once viewers have considered each of the artists’ works, they’re invited to contribute to a collective tapestry on the loom or create a smaller, individual piece to take home.

    Installation view of “Weaving Stories”

    Attuned to the sensitive subject matter of the exhibition, Bibbs asks participants to explore their own feelings and memories in response to the artworks. Viewers can even write down their thoughts and interlace their shredded notes into the final work.

    In addition to “Weaving Stories,” No One Knows All It Takes also offers an opportunity to engage with Gaspar’s “Disappearance Jail (Wisconsin)” in a public event on October 9. Following a discussion about the intersection of art and incarceration with Dr. Robert S. Smith, the artist will lead attendees in a “punch party,” a workshop in which participants use a hole punch to obscure images of jails, prisons, and detention facilities. The completed works will then be re-hung in the gallery.

    And lastly, Colossal will also be hosting a conversation with Deal and Dr. Sergio M. González about immigration, wellbeing, and making art in this increasingly precarious moment. We encourage attendees to spend time with Deal’s works in the exhibition prior to joining us for that discussion, which will be held on September 24.

    No One Knows All It Takes is on view through December 20 in Milwaukee, with an opening reception on September 11. Find all of the programming on the museum’s website.

    Installation view of two works by Raoul Deal

    Installation view of Bibbs’ works

    Detail view of Gaspar’s “Disappearance Jail (Wisconsin)”

    Installation view of Gaspar’s “Disappearance Jail (Wisconsin)”

    Installation view of works by Raoul Deal

    Installation view of works by Raoul Deal

    Installation view of Swoon’s “Medea”

    Installation view of Swoon’s “Medea” and Bibbs’ works

    Next article More

    More stories

    • 138 Shares167 Views

      in Art

      In Milwaukee, Four Artists Unravel Trauma to Move Toward Collective Wellness

      by

      Swoon, “Medea” (2017), wood, hand cut paper, laser cut paper, linoleum block print on paper, acrylic gouache, cardboard, lighting elements

      In Milwaukee, Four Artists Unravel Trauma to Move Toward Collective Wellness

      August 21, 2025

      ArtColossalSocial Issues

      Grace Ebert

      Share

      Pin

      Email

      Bookmark

      In a world riddled with injustice and predicated on privilege for the few at the expense of the many, what does it mean to be well? An exhibition opening Friday at the Haggerty Museum of Art in Milwaukee considers the effects of concealed trauma and the inextricable ties between personal health and collective wellness.

      No One Knows All It Takes invites four artists—Bryana Bibbs, Raoul Deal, Maria Gaspar, and Swoon (previously)—who utilize art-making to grapple with complex emotions, imagine solutions to widespread problems, and share their stories and those of others. The timely exhibition, curated by Colossal, brings forth pressing issues like addiction, incarceration, immigration, and a lack of support for caregivers, conveyed through visually arresting works across media.

      Bryana Bibbs, “1.25.24-1.26.24” (2024), handwoven Papa George hospital blanket, Papa George playing cards, gifted pants, 11.5 x 14.5 inches

      No One Knows All It Takes opens with portraits by Deal, intimate renderings made through hours of conversations with the subjects. Paired with his wooden sculptures, the elaborate carvings explore the central role of immigration in American history and culture. Bibbs’ weavings and monotype prints—created while she cared for her dying grandparents with many of their belongings— follow as a sort of ghostly archive of what remains after death.

      Swoon’s “Medea” fills the fourth gallery space, a deeply personal installation that the artist made, in part, to confront her mother’s lifelong struggle with addiction and mental illness. An exposed tarantula mother, portraits of Swoon’s own family, wooden windows, and audio elements layer personal artifacts with recurring motifs about intergenerational trauma.

      The Wisconsin iteration of Gaspar’s Disappearance Jail series tucks into a smaller, more confined space at the end of the exhibition. Featuring images of 113 prisons, jails, and juvenile and immigrant detention facilities throughout the state, the project invites visitors to use hole punches to literally remove and obscure the carceral spaces. Because incarceration has historically been the only manner in which society addresses harm and trauma, Gaspar’s work tasks each person with the abolitionist exercise of imagining other possibilities.

      Raoul Deal, “Trenzas” (2023), woodcut with deckled edge, 28 x 42 inches

      The title, No One Knows All It Takes, came from a conversation with Bibbs, in which she described the emotional, mental, and physical toll of caring for her grandparents in their final months. Referencing the intersecting and multilayered effects of trauma, the phrase is also multivalent: it invokes the immense amount of energy needed to function while ill, the wide-reaching impacts of trauma on an individual’s life, and the social, political, and cultural costs of unaddressed issues.

      No One Knows All It Takes will be on view from August 22 to December 20. The Haggerty Museum of Art is located at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

      Maria Gaspar, Disappearance Jail series (detail), (2021-ongoing), hundreds of perforated archival Inkjet prints on rice paper, 5 x 7 inches each

      Raoul Deal, “Immigration Series #8” (2013), woodcut, 40 x 26 1/4 inches

      Swoon, “Medea” (2017), wood, hand cut paper, laser cut paper, linoleum block print on paper, acrylic gouache, cardboard, lighting elements

      Bryana Bibbs, “12.27.23” (2023), handwoven Papa George casino playing cards, Papa George hospital blanket, 14 x 9.25 inches

      Bryana Bibbs, “8.26.24” (2024), handwoven Papa George athletic tee, Papa George gifted pajama pants, Mema decor flowers, 25 x 9 inches

      Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now, and support independent arts publishing.

      Hide advertising

      Save your favorite articles

      Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop

      Receive members-only newsletter

      Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms

      Join us today!

      $7/month

      $75/year

      Explore membership options

      Previous articleNext article More

    • 63 Shares119 Views

      in Street Art

      “Rewilding” Nuart Aberdeen Festival 2022

      by

      Street artists and muralists from across the World once again descended on Aberdeen for the 2023 Nuart Festival. 12 artists created eight new painted murals alongside four street works which primarily featuring paste up and poster art.It marked another successful return to Aberdeen for Nuart who were celebrating their sixth year of working with the city. As in previous years, the combination of permanent and transitionary artworks provided a real art feast for people to seek out and stumble upon.Returning to the Scottish city, Nuart Aberdeen 2023 will feature 13 artists who will paint their imaginative and engaged murals around the city centre and its surrounding areas. The list includes AIDA Wilde, Eloise Gillow, Escif, Jamie Reid, KMG, Manolo Mesa, Murmure, NeSpoon, SNIK, Stanley Donwood, Swoon, Tamara Alves, and Thiago Mazza.“Rewilding”. A topical theme that touches on many issues related to “Trespass and Transgression” which we’ve been researching this past year with friends and colleagues for Nuart Journal, but one which provokes different questions and responses as it sends us down different pathways and tributaries.Rewilding isn’t without its own issues of course – it’s not all meadows full of wildflowers and the freedom to roam. There’s also the question of the local industries and people that have for generations built their lives around the enclosing of “common” land – not unlike those “creative industries” that have grown exponentially around “art” and the “artist”. In taking a “birds eye” view of a future “rewilded” city, where the roots from the art on the streets are entwined around the granite columns of our illustrious art institutions, and the carefully curated and cultivated flowers of the institution are flooding through the double doors and out into the high-street, we attempt to provoke reflections on what a city where art is truly free, might look, sound, smell and feel like. What happens to those industries and “enclosures” when art becomes unshackled from its chains?In a culture of the permissioned and commissioned mural where the tag still runs wild and free, how do we harness the power of one without losing the vitality and exuberance of the other?It’s an interesting picture, and those are exactly what we live for – and what we’ll hopefully be contributing to the local environment come June. We hope you’ll join us in exploring some of these new works and themes.‘To be honest, it will be some time before I’ve processed everything about Nuart 2023,  in a lot of respect, when a Nuart “ends” , it’s very much the beginning for me. So I’ll let it settle, pick up the bills, enjoy the imagery and memories and hopefully come away with a sense of fulfillment. In saying that, I think that anyone involved in previous editions, would attest that there was something quite magical about this year. It really felt like we were a community of like-minded souls, that we caught and channeled something quite ancient and genuine and authentically human. Perhaps it was the rewilding theme, this yearning for something more than what the current system offers and how we’re forced to navigate it in order to put food on the table. I hope we managed to show some alternatives or triggered some thoughts around what this culture genuinely has to offer away from the glitz and the glamour, the novelty and the merch. Over the course of the production, I see deep and genuine friendships emerging, bonds forming that in some cases will last a lifetime. Apart from all the wonderful art, a genuinely interested public, the production and partners and all that goes into a Nuart edition, there are aspects of it that we’ll never know, the friendships and narratives and the seeds of ideas that are planted, new relationships to each other and to the world that are formed, this is the real story and value of what we all collectively create. – Martyn Reed,  the director and curator of Nuart, on the evolution of Nuart Festival.Text from the Nuart Team More

    • 100 Shares179 Views

      in Street Art

      “The Sanctuary” by Swoon in North Braddock, Pennsylvania

      by

      Artist Caledonia Curry, also known as Swoon—one of the most famous artist activists today is currently working on a project called “The Sanctuary” in North Braddock, Pennsylvania.Artist’s rendering of The Sanctuary WindowsSwoon grew up with drug addicted parents who went through the U.S. incarceration system. This left a major impact on her and her practice, leading her to start the nonprofit The Heliotrope Foundation to help communities in crisis through artist collaborations. And in 2007, Swoon and a group of friends were invited to purchase and restore one of Braddock, PA’s landmark buildings: an abandoned church. They saved this structure from a tide of demolitions that were ravaging the area, alongside economic blight and lack of job and educational opportunities, and turned it into a creative space with community tile-making workshops.Architectural renderings by Lauris SvarupsNow, Swoon is working with Za’kiyah House to transform the Braddock, PA church into an art-filled community center and transitional living space for the homeless and people with addiction issues and criminal records. “The Sanctuary” will become apartments, a social hall and a sanctuary space.The Sanctuary will become apartments, a social hall and a sanctuary space serving the community of North Braddock, PA. It will address the housing discrimination faced by people with criminal records and strengthen family bonds by providing apartments where families can stay together, rather than risk having children lost to the foster care system.Decoratively boarded up windows, awaiting replacement.While this work is local to one place, with its trauma informed model and restorative-justice based philosophy, The Sanctuary is creating a beacon that many other communities can steer by as we ask ourselves how we reckon with our notions of justice, and how we will learn to heal the intergenerational cycles of trauma that so often lead to devastating outcomes such as homelessness and incarceration.After successfully fundraising and constructing a new roof the team is now raising funds to replace the windows.  There are 38 custom windows that need replacing as well as a large stain-glass window designed by Swoon.Swoon launched a Kickstarter campaign (ending May 30) to raise funds for the space. Rewards for Kickstarter backers include pieces by fellow artists Shepard Fairey, Scott Erickson, Michael Reeder, Strange Dirt, Nelson Makamo, Ebony Patterson, Rajni Perera, Jean Jullien, Cara To, Komikka Patton, Shehzil Malik and Swoon.Original stain-glass window with new restoration design by Swoon“The opportunity to contribute to this work means so much to me. Both of my parents went through incarceration and rehab as a result of drug addictions, and the presence of houses like this meant that they could come back into my life in much stronger ways.  I’ve seen what happens when someone has a chance to rebuild their life, and how their second chance impacts everyone around them. I see this work as a step toward healing the cycles of intergenerational trauma that fuel so many of our societal crises.”“Also tremendously important is the chance to re-enfranchise the black community with land and property ownership. In 2020 I made the decision to donate a home that I owned to become Donnelle’s Safe Haven. There were many factors influencing this decision, and one of them was discovering the role that my own ancestors played in the enslavement of African people, and the recognition of the impacts that this history still has on the present day. As we work to address systemic racism in all of its manifestations, creating stability and empowerment through long term resources held within the black community is key. It’s my hope that some of the tens of millions of Americans with ancestors who benefited from our country’s brutal history will consider participating in projects like The Sanctuary as part of a larger movement toward reparations ” Swoon stated.This collaborative endeavor is the result of over a decade of community based arts and justice work. It is built on many many relationships and made possible by hundreds of people who have donated resources or lent a hand because they believe in Ronna Davis Moore’s vision, and want to support a new way forward. Please join in this big barn raising for healing-justice and creativity. To know more about the project, visit The Sanctuary’s page. More

    • 138 Shares119 Views

      in Street Art

      Vanguard – Bristol Street Art: The Evolution of a Global Movement

      by

      Vanguard in partnership with Vans presents Bristol Street Art: The Evolution of a Global Movement – an exhibition exploring the instrumental role of Bristol’s creatives in the development of British Street Art, from the 1980s to the present day. The seminal works, notable moments, key events and extraordinary artists belonging to Bristol’s dynamic history are highlighted in this comprehensive and compelling exhibition, which examines the creative response of the city’s pioneering underground scene throughout the UK’s turbulent social and political history and considers the drive for social change underpinning the work of many of today’s street artists. From anarchist origins in the ‘80s and ‘90s through to the explosion of the scene in the early ‘00s, the exhibition brings together one of the largest collections of original works and memorabilia ever seen in the UK. Beyond Bristol, Vanguard explores the evolving disciplines of British and Irish artists moving from the street art conversation to bridge contemporary fields by fusing traditional techniques with new technologies. The exhibition also reflects on how a new generation of global creatives are advocating for social and environmental awareness through art on the streets. From bronze sculptures to immersive displays, Vanguard reveals a host of new original pieces, as well as rare and unseen works, including bespoke edits from the iconic filmmakers and photographers who documented the unfolding scene. As part of the exhibition, Vanguard will also launch a series of exclusive releases from some of Bristol’s finest creatives, including: 
      An accompanying book featuring worldwide academics, film directors, writers, artists, creatives and specialists reflecting the evolving momentum of the movement 
      An exclusive album featuring some of the tracks which formed the roots of the world-famous Bristol Sound 
      Artist led merchandise from various artists featured in the exhibition Outside of the exhibition, Vanguard has partnered with Vans to launch an exciting city-wide, community-based outreach programme running throughout the duration, aligning with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The outreach programme hopes to promote discussion and participation at the intersection of culture and sustainable action and will include art activations, workshops, panels and film screenings. Exhibition Highlights New and unique works by Bristolian, British and international artists include: 
      New and original works from Adam Neate, Andy Council, Antony Micallef, Bill Posters, China Mike, Conor Harrington, Dale VMN Collins (formerly known as Dale Marshall), Dicy, Eko, Feek, Filthy Luker, Inkie, Lucas Price, Lucy McLauchlan, Matt Small, Mau Mau, Mr Jago, Paris, Rowdy, Sickboy, Swoon, Will Barras and Xenz 
      A life-size bronze sculpture of an old favourite from Nick Walker 
      Kineta Hill and Karen Dew’s photographic projections, Watching Paint Dry, female documenters of Bristol’s scene 
      Iconic photographs of the 80s from Beezer 
      A bespoke five-minute edit of the film Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn 
      A bespoke seven-minute film by Scottish filmmaker Doug Gillen of Fifth Wall TV with an original score by drum and bass producer and DJ Krust 
      Matthew Smith’s rare images of the 90s – the time of rave and the Criminal Justice Bill 
      Carrie Hitchcock and Yan Saunders’ unseen photographic archive 
      Legendary photographer Henry Chalfant’s unseen photographs of his time in Bristol for Spraycan Art Further details on the Vanguard book, album, outreach events and artist releases will be released shortly. Vanguard | Bristol Street Art: The Evolution of a Global Movement M Shed, Bristol, BS1 4RN Saturday 26 June 2021 – Sunday 31 October 2021 Admission £8 adult* / £7 concession* (*Tickets include £1 voluntary donation to Bristol Museums www.www.instagram.com/vanguardstreetartwww.vanguardstreetart.com More