Catherine Rubin
Artist Statement
In my artistic journey, I traverse the landscapes of meaning and rediscovery, navigating through the depths of human experience. I discovered printmaking nearly two decades ago, and I have found that carving speaks to me in a way that no other art form does.
For nearly two decades, I have worked as an art therapist, dedicating myself towards teaching children and their families to express their emotions through art, and heal through creativity. Fifteen years of my career was spent working with children with cancer and blood disorders on an inpatient unit in a hospital. I found this work deeply meaningful, rewarding, and fulfilling. But, the upheaval brought by the pandemic shattered the constructs of understanding and coping I had meticulously built over the years. In the wake of uncertainty and loss, I found solace and sanctuary in printmaking, a medium that had long spoken to my soul. I began taking reductive printmaking classes in the summer of 2021 and it is through this process that I embarked on a journey of exploration, to rediscover the lightness and meaning that I had lost in life.
For me, carving a woodblock transcends mere artistic expression; it becomes a ritual of catharsis, a shedding of the weight of the world's sharp edges. Each stroke of the carving tool is a step towards reclaiming meaning from the chaos.
My artwork is a tapestry woven from moments of revelation and introspection. It celebrates the fleeting glimpses of lightness and beauty amidst the shadows of darkness. Through vibrant colors and serene sunrises, I channel my eternal optimism, yet my prints also bear witness to the countless sunsets I have witnessed, each marking the passage of time and the cyclical nature of existence.
