“Attrition” by Silas Tibbs, ArtsWave “Truth & Healing” Artist 

“One of my goals with art and with cinema is to create those opportunities for one person to look at another person and just live in their universe for a while, and that might change your perspective and how you approach things.”

Silas Tibbs

2023 ArtsWave Black and Brown Artists Program

Creativity Squared is proud to support and partner with ArtsWave and to bring you this special interview series featuring the phenomenal artists and grant recipients selected for this year’s ArtsWave Black and Brown Artists Program.

Silas is a 2023 ArtsWave Black and Brown Artists Program Grant Recipient and “Truth & Healing” Artist.

The intention of these interviews is to give these talented and deserving artists another platform to share their art and truth expressed through it, as you never know what ripples will turn into waves. If you’re interested in working with, featuring, or supporting these artists, please don’t be shy about it.

We’ll be hearing from these artists whose films were shown in the ArtsWave “Truth & Healing” Showcase and Film Festivals. Part one of this series features the artists whose work is in the exhibition that is available for visiting at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH, through September 10. 

This year’s theme is “Truth & Healing” and Creativity Squared host Helen Todd had the great honor of interviewing the artists during the opening showcase to learn more about their work and what truth and healing means to them.

Meet Silas Tibbs

Silas Tibbs (b. 1987) is a formally trained filmmaker, writer, and thespian who seeks to use the mesmerizing powers of the cinematic, theatrical, and visual arts to articulate the unutterable and deepest longings of every human. His work, though crossing many mediums, forms, and genres, seeks to remain deeply human.

“Attrition”

In this Orwellian-style science fiction film, the African American experience unfolds in a dystopian future. The aftermath of a devastating protest leads to the establishment of a strict government department, the Department of Social Regulation. The story follows a disillusioned black war veteran and his wife, who, after enduring years of disillusionment, undergo a final interview for an opportunity that holds the potential to change their lives. As their interview approaches, they grapple with the oppressive system and the difficult choices they must make to navigate the intricacies of the African American experience within this Orwellian world.

ArtsWave 2023 Black and Brown Artists Program Cohort

This year’s Black and Brown Artists Program cohort reflects a vibrant collection of diverse art forms created by an equally diverse group of 18 artists. Their mediums include couture fashion, painting, and sculpture — along with film, musical composition, podcasts, theater, dance, and multidisciplinary works.

The projects not only represent the African American experience, but also the experiences of those with Mexican, Lebanese, Somali, Argentinian, Zimbabwean, Guatemalan, and Indigenous heritage.

Listen to the accompanying podcast episode which features Silas:

Connect with Silas

Visit Silas’ website to learn more about his experience, view his gallery, and schedule a booking with him.

Learn more about ArtsWave and why we proudly support the organization in episode 9 “Art Bridges Cultural Divides” with Janice Liebenberg, VP of Equitable Arts Advancement at ArtsWave: https://bit.ly/Ep9JaniceLiebenberg.

Creativity Squared is a proud partner of ArtsWave and because it’s important to support artists like Michael, 10% of all revenue Creativity Squared generates goes to ArtsWave and directly supports the Black and Brown Artists Program.

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