Amanda Banks shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Amanda, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Reading, easy. I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child, and that love never diminished. Last year I made an effort to center reading in my life a lot more than I had been doing, and it has been wonderful…I’m almost at my goal of reading 42 books this year! My go-to genres are speculative and literary fiction, sci-fi, along with art and environmental writing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a fiber-based visual artist working on the land I grew up on in North West Georgia. I love color, I love the way things feel, I love working with my hands. I’m a texture enthusiast. Hand embroidery was my entry point to art making, and I have expanded my practice to include weaving, latch-hook, tufting, soft sculpture, installation, and working with/on paper.
I’m interested in materials that can be manipulated or behave like textiles- various plastics & styrofoam, hosing, rubber tubing, electronic cording, thin metals, and waste materials. Some of my favorite places to find materials is on the side of the road, on the ground during walks, the the back of a closet. Things that have been deemed past their use date. No longer useful in the way they were made to be. Lately, I’ve been working with food waste textiles- burlap coffee bags and plastic 50# onion bags. I’ve been experimenting with using paper as a base for quilting, instead of traditional fabrics. I’ve been creating public weaving installations in unexpected places, and looking for opportunities to weave bigger and bolder.
Something new (& kinda exciting) I’ve been working on lately is expanding into garments. Right now I’m creating a collection of reworked denim and tees that will be available on December 14th! Translating the familiar shapes, bright colors, and inviting textures of my fine art into wearable pieces for many folks to enjoy has been a fun challenge. I hope to see these garments being worn out in the world soon. 🙂
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Definitely my relationship with my mom. Without her love, guidance, discernment, and support I wouldn’t be the person I am today. She raised me to be who I wanted to be- not who she, or anyone else wanted me to be. She was always the first to know and be excited about any new thing I took an interest in. She taught me how to read at a young age, took me on regular trips to the library, and loved hearing about the stories I read. She taught me how to cook intuitively, and although I’ll never be able to match her in the kitchen, I can do my thing. She provided a foundation for my love of music and art, and didn’t flinch when I decided to drop out of college at 19 and begin travelling solo. She gave me an example of what love, generosity, care, and acceptance looks like in action.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Failure is an opportunity to learn. And up to this point, I’ve had a lot of opportunity to learn.
Being a working artist comes with more failures, more rejections, more “no’s” than “yes’s”. It sucks, honestly. It’s hard to spend so much time making work to share with the world, with your community, and have it met with silence or disinterest. It’s hard to spend hours crafting statements, polishing a CV, drifting proposals, and building budgets for applications only to receive an email saying you weren’t selected. It’s hard to try and KEEP trying. It makes you question yourself. Why am I doing this? Is it worth the effort, the energy? Why continue on when nothing seems to be going right…going anywhere at all?
I think I’ll be asking myself these questions until some sort of clarity emerges, and I’m not sure what that will look like just yet. What I can say is, at least in the studio, there’s no way to make a mistake. Only opportunities to explore and build on what I’ve been working with. Every application rejection represents a successful submission, a statement just a bit clearer than the last. Every “no” is the result of a conversation that was had, a small connection that was formed even if it didn’t turn out the way I hoped. Every piece I’ve made and shared that was met with a lackluster reception is personal evidence of continued growth.
No one wants to struggle or fail or experience rejection, but I think that reframing these experiences offers a lot more room for expansion than a life lived without any obstacles.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Oh yeah, always. Perhaps to my detriment, sometimes. It’s hard for me to not share my true opinions or feelings about things, and at this point in my life I refuse to spend energy masking to make myself more palatable for others. You can rely on me to always speak my mind, tell the truth, and leave when I’m ready.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Drinking hot chocolate 4-6 times a week. I can’t say there’s any specific future benefit to it, it’s not something to make a business, and I don’t even know if there are any kind of health effects (positive or negative). I just love hot chocolate! And I’m gonna keep making it in as many delicious ways I can think of for the rest of my life.
If you ever come to visit or invite me to your house, I’ll happily make a pot for us to share.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amandaworld.love
- Instagram: @amandaworld.love
- Other: https://amandaworld.substack.com
Image Credits
all images courtesy of the artist
