Artists have sought to capture the essence of hope for centuries. Difficulty rendering the abstract idea likely stems from its multiplicity of meaning: everyone conceptualizes hope differently. A few creators have managed to do the term justice. Ancient Romans personified hope as an archaistic maiden, Gustav Klimt imagined hope as an expectant mother, Frida Kahlo used hope to juxtapose pain and determination, and this month, Yeabsera Tabb convincingly depicts her version of hope through a host of exciting formats in the Harrison Gallery.

Hope is a complex subject. So too are many other themes Tabb wrestles with in the show: the concept of “home,” kinship, nostalgia, and the intersections of beauty, pain, and anger. She does this well, with understanding beyond her years. Throughout the exhibition, she weaves snippets of her unique story into thoughtful and contemplative works using ink, watercolor, charcoal, thread, woodcuts, and more.

Yeabsera Tabb, *Friends in Foliage*, woodcut relief print

Tabb grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city. When she was thirteen, she moved to Greenfield, Indiana. Inspired by community, storytelling, and her passion for making, she pursued a degree in Design for Social Impact with a Fine Arts minor at Indiana Wesleyan University. Tabb first interacted with the Harrison Center as a Creative Placemaking summer intern. She returned as a Creative Placemaking fellow and now additionally occupies studio space as a social impact designer and interdisciplinary visual artist.

Tabb believes that “hope gives us the ability to keep going, to keep creating, and to keep showing up. Hope is around us and the beauty in each other regardless of our current situation.” This sentiment is present throughout Bracing for Hope: where nameless figures mix with the familiar, where Ethiopian architecture stands weightlessly in stark contrast to washes of expressionistic ink, and where the lines of well-known Greatriarchs’ faces remind us of the value that community offers. Tabb’s vision of hope provides a message of resilience, unity, and, as the show’s title suggests, even tension and uncertainty.

Tabb cites the work Ken Guzo as a crucial piece in the show - one that encapsulates how she’s felt in the past and how she feels currently. The work utilizes pockets of narrative to incite curiosity and wonder in the viewer. This piece also represents Tabb’s creative process through its energetic splashes of ink, which she describes as “driven and energized by childlike wonder and playfulness.”

Tabb brings a refreshing and unique perspective to the Harrison Gallery walls with the unveiling of this expansive body of work. It is a thoughtful show that explores our ability to hold contradictory emotions simultaneously in a vibrant, experimental, and nostalgic way. This is the artist’s first solo exhibition at the Harrison Center and it is stunning - I hope you have the chance to experience the work in its entirety.

Bracing for Hope is on display in the Harrison Gallery during the month of February. Works are available for view and purchase in-person and online through our online gallery. Gallery hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.