weavings

weaver

fermentation nerd

hobby farmer

weaver • fermentation nerd • hobby farmer •

My goals as textile artist and wool producer are to celebrate interconnectivity, moments of slowness, touch, and the satisfaction I find in the materiality of fibers. Combining my practice as a weaver with my lifestyle as a small-scale shepherd allows me to engage in holistic practice that brings natural and second-hand materials through the entirety of their life cycle. Thoughtful collection of discarded fiber stashes, environmental practices around dyes, and supporting local wool production allows me to invite others into this practice through conversation, workshops, community, and other events. I create woven abstractions of living communities and networks so that people may slow down and reflect on physical processes and material sources to better appreciate what they cannot see. Source imagery that inspires these abstractions often comes from microbial communities that aggregate during the fermentation process; these tiny communities facilitate the recycling of all the basic materials in our world, which I find both inspiring and fascinating. Through playful uses of color, pattern, and textures, I hope to pass my sense of awe on to the viewer while at the same time creating an object that serves as both a metaphor and a stilled enactment of these processes.

feed it

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love it

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shear it

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wash it

〰️

pick it

〰️

card it

〰️

spin it

〰️

ply it

〰️

skein it

〰️

dye it

〰️

ball it

〰️

wind it

〰️

warp it

〰️

weave it

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feed it 〰️ love it 〰️ shear it 〰️ wash it 〰️ pick it 〰️ card it 〰️ spin it 〰️ ply it 〰️ skein it 〰️ dye it 〰️ ball it 〰️ wind it 〰️ warp it 〰️ weave it 〰️

A Note about Titles
You may notice many titles written in chemical language. These titles are constructed, false imitations of realities, made by adapting polypeptide shorthand to spell words. A title is at best, a small, second artwork for those who take the time to look.

Why Polypeptide Chains?
Because theres nothing better than watching an excited scientist in a gallery, decoding the letters in a title to read it.

Handwoven wall hangings

Locally & thoughtfully sourced materials that will bring lasting warmth to your walls

BiTS & BOBS:

who the hell is
RACHEL-BEAN.

Rachel received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from The Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design at The University of Michigan in 2013 and her Masters in Studio Arts from the Fibers and Materials Studies Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2020. She is a co-founding member of Abstract Lunch Gallery since 2019 and a Co-Owner of Fiber Fleet since 2021. Rachel and Mr. Rachel (aka Nick) own five acres together which is lovingly named Fluffybutt Homestead. Since 2014 they have had a goal of growing 50% of their food, Natural Dye plants - an indigo vat named Bert, as well as raising Pygora Goats, Jacob Sheep, Icelandic Sheep, Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Bees, Rabbits, and no shortage of fluffy dogs.

Rachel Elizabeth Meyers Bean Hefferan. Thats me!

In Summer of 1991, a tiny Rachel was born during the festival of the arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Soon after her parents lovingly deemed her “Rachel-Bean-the-Drama-Queen” - which in the decades followed was shortened to Bean, a nickname used by loved ones, colleagues, and even a few regulars at the bar Bean slings beer at part time.

Rachel is an organized, avid, maximalist with a love for bright color. She is an overflowing cup, or some days just a puddle, of empathy.

Curious about Abstract Lunch Gallery? Want to buy some sustainable wool goods or check out a little environmental & textile based education from Fiber Fleet? Maybe you are on the hunt for some Duck eggs from Fluffybutt Homestead? Links Galore, Below!

Links to the other stuff Rachel Does