Knitting Together the Data: Interview With Fibre Artist Rickie van Berkum

“How do we balance the implications of data with our values?” asks Rickie van Berkum, a Montana-based fibre artist known for her stunning handknitted data visualizations. “How do the results shown in … graphs impact your thoughts on issues of importance?”

Working at the intersection of data science and folk art, van Berkum uses knitting to explore the importance of using scientific research in decision-making. She draws insights from peer-reviewed publications, teasing out trends in the data and translating them into wearable art. The resulting works are colourful and cozy, but also confronting. From gender inequality to climate change, each unique artwork sheds light on a pressing social issue.

In a recent blog post, Canadian nonprofit Art the Science sat down with van Berkum to find out more about her work. In this interview, she shares her thoughts on data visualization, science storytelling, and more.

‘Carbon Dioxide — 800,000 Years 2’ by Rickie van Berkum: Carbon dioxide levels are much higher today (orange bar, at right) than they have been for the past 800,000 years (all bars). Humans have been around for only the past 300,000 years (light blue bars).

Alice Fleerackers: Which came first in your life, the science or the art?

Rickie van Berkum: Science came first; I have always been fascinated by the ecological relationships between animals, plants, and the world around them. I pursued this interest through a PhD in Zoology and, afterwards, through rainforest conservation work. My love of knitting also started early but it is only recently that I began creating my own designs and considering the possibilities and constraints of hand-knits as an artistic medium.

In 2017, I became concerned by the devaluation of science and data by our leadership and some of the public. I feel strongly that decisions at all levels are best made when relevant data are considered. My response was to develop a novel approach to telling the stories of science. I work with the tension between hard science and a traditional handcraft with familiar positive associations: hand-knitting.

‘Family Wealth 3’ by Rickie van Berkum: In the US, family wealth became more concentrated in the top 10% of families (green) from 1989–2010.

‘Family Wealth 2’ by Rickie van Berkum

AF: Which sciences relate to your art practice?

RVB: Much of my work involves climate science and social sciences, but I create pieces that show rigorous science in any field that affects our lives, including wildfire, gun safety, economics, and biodiversity. My challenge as an artist is to create pieces that are appealing and welcoming to non-scientists and scientists alike.

‘A Gender Difference 2’ by Rickie van Berkum: Women’s average hourly wages (rust) were lower than men’s (blue) average hourly wages in 2015 at all education levels.

‘A Gender Difference 2’ by Rickie van Berkum

AF: What materials do you use to create your artworks?

RVB: My artwork is created from yarn made from a blend of soft merino wool and silk, knit with wooden knitting needles. This yarn works up soft and cozy but with clear stitch definition. Colours show brightly on the yarn, enhanced by the hint of sheen from the silk. I dye my yarns using professional acid dyes.

“I like the juxtaposition of the comfort of the yarn and the rigor of the data that I’m presenting.”

My trusty laptop and the internet are my tools for research and translating peer-reviewed data into knittable pieces.

‘Women in Corporate America’ by Rickie van Berkum: In corporate America, fewer women than men are hired and fewer women are promoted as they move up the corporate ladder.

‘Women in Corporate America’ (detail) by Rickie van Berkum

‘Gun Safety’ by Rickie van Berkum: US states with stronger gun safety laws have fewer gun-related deaths.

AF: What artwork or exhibition you are most proud of?

RVB: I am most proud of pieces that encourage viewers to discuss the underlying science and consider how the data might impact their thinking. Some examples: Women in Corporate America, Gun Safety, Unintended Consequences, and Rich Man Poor Man.

‘Unintended Consequences 2' by Rickie van Berkum: Human-caused carbon dioxide emissions have shown a large increase since the 1850’s.

‘Unintended Consequences 3' by Rickie van Berkum

‘Unintended Consequences 4’ by Rickie van Berkum

‘Rich Man Poor Man’ by Rickie van Berkum: Race impacts the future incomes of boys raised in rich households. Black adult men (blue) who were raised in rich households ended up in lower-income brackets than white adult men (gray) who were raised in rich households

AF: Which scientists and/or artists inspire and/or have influenced you?

RVB: My graduate advisor, Dr. Raymond Huey, was a great model of the importance of telling the stories in science.

My work is about interpreting science by telling stories, and I am so inspired by science journalists who excel at this, especially Kendra Pierre-Louis, Flora Graham, who writes the Nature Briefing for Nature, and the editors of Science News.

Artists who have inspired me include fibre artists Kaffe Fassett and Kristin Nichols, along with painters Sandro Botticelli, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Mark Rothko, and Helen Frankenthaler. My growth as an artist has been inspired by painters and friends Julie T. Chapman and Liz Chappie-Zoller.

‘Yellowstone Wolves, Elk, and Beavers 2' by Rickie van Berkum: Populations of elk (orange) declined and beaver (blue) increased after wolves (gray) were introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995.

‘Hurricanes Lingering’ by Rickie van Berkum: The speed that hurricanes move across the landscape (called ‘translation speed’ — not the same as wind speed) has decreased since 1949.

AF: Is there anything else you want to tell us?

RVB: I strive to present only the strongest and clearest science in my pieces. The research for my work includes reading the original peer-reviewed publications that present the data, and often consulting with other scientists and statisticians.

Find our more at Rickie van Berkum’s website, Facebook, or Instagram.

This post was first published by Alice Fleerackers on the Art the Science Blog. Find out more at artthescience.com.