March 20, 1952 - October 2, 2022
In memory of Deborah Bednarek
March 20, 1952 - October 2, 2022
Written by Mirrix President Claudia Chase
All photos are of weavings by Deb
Time does a number on our memory but I can still remember in vivid detail the day I met Deb Bednerek at a Bead & Buttton Show in Milwauke. The second I saw her I knew she was a kindred spirit. (If I get details wrong let me please apologize. I only know the Deb I know). She was working at a bead booth. A friend of hers owned the store she was representing. At the time Deb was an art teacher so I am sure this was just pure Debbie having fun mingling with the Beaders. I believe at the time she was more “beady" and less "fibery", although of course that cannot be true because Deb was weaving fiber on huge looms before I met her. I guess she is as confusing as me. One medium just flows into the next. They are all perfect while they exist for us.
Deb and I ran into each over the years. I visited her home in WI. She followed and participated in Mirrix in such a whole and sweet and beautiful way. We wrote emails back and forth about the state of the world. And we had something very interesting in common: We didn’t care what the world thought of our work. We just had to make it. And both of us did. Obsessively. We both love color.
Deb fell in love with my hand-painted silk to make her gorgeous neckpieces. They are extraordinary. She also used the silk for tapestry, again bringing magic to the fiber. She was spending so much money on my hand-painted silk that I started giving her the leftovers. And she continued to make magic.
Mirrix was thrilled to have Deb launch our teaching series at our facility in Sturgeon Bay WI earlier this year. We are so grateful she was the first.
The last time I communicated with Deb a couple of months ago I asked her how things were going with her treatment. She answered and then in pure Deb style: I guess I will just go weave!
About a year or so ago I was diagnosed with cancer. Deb was her usual supportive self. And then it happened to her, but worse. I just did not know we would lose a beautiful fiber and bead warrior so soon. I miss her in my heart.
