“Half is Whole” is a series reflecting upon society’s labeling of individuals and communities as “half” of something else and how that labeling is both unnecessary and potentially detrimental. It prompts us to think about the importance of shifting labels so that what was considered “half” is actually both complete and whole. The wire emphasizes the wish to retain the halfness as fullness. The sand in this piece is a cradle. The piece rests on the sand lying in its own contemplative satisfaction. “We Remember,” 2023: A sandbox reminds me of play – the summer. Contemplative time on the beach. These vessels placed in sand are intended to transport us through an unearthing process. The sand invites interaction and an encounter to play. The act of play invites us to be present in the moment. The imprints in the sand created by the viewer are reminders of ephemeral moments.
Bio: Shirah Rubin is a sculptor who works in mixed media most often incorporating ceramics. Through my artistic endeavors, which include sculptural ceramics, installations, and public art, I invent three-dimensional worlds that explore memory and the challenges posed by its fragile nature. I believe that the past is caught between three discrete elements: its reality, our idealization of that reality, and the impossibility of recapturing that reality. By investigating these intersections I reclaim fragments of memory, defying the notion that reclaiming memories is beyond our grasp. As a teaching artist, Shirah develops art workshops for audiences ranging from young children through adults in museums, universities, schools, and camps. Shirah has taught at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; the Fresh Air Fund at Camp Hidden Valley, NY; Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design Hillel and Gallery.