The Driftwood Whisperer

JEWS OF THE UNIVERSE: Introducing Tanya Bub

Hey, beloved tribe.

Here is an excerpt of today’s Jews Of The Universe column at JUDITH:

“Of all the work I’ve done in the last few years, one of the most meaningful projects to me was a collaboration with the street community here in Victoria. There’s a documentary about it now called Sitting With Grace.

Over my time working in the art gallery here, which is a co-op, I noticed that while everyone is super nice, whenever someone from the street community would walk in the door, there would be this alarmed response of: *What are you doing here? Can I help you?* You know, like really icy and forbidding: *Can I help you?*

Well, with an art gallery, anyone is supposed to be able to come in and browse, right? That’s the point of the space.

So I started to think about how I could challenge that kind of knee-jerk response, that prejudice against street people — especially within the gallery. And that led me to the creation of Sitting With Grace, a female figure that’s also a throne of sorts, made entirely of discarded materials – either litter or old broken stuff on its way to the curb.

Only two components of the whole sculpture were purchased: the casters I used to put her on wheels so I could pull her around on the sidewalk, and various signs people were using to panhandle, which I incorporated into the piece.

Buying those signs was a great ice-breaker and changed the usual dynamic between the person panhandling and the person approaching them. Suddenly they had something I wanted, something I was willing to pay for.

And then I’d invite them to add more to the sculpture if they felt like it, and to sit on it and talk with me if they felt moved to do so.

The idea of grace is a kind of generosity or acceptance given by the viewer, which does not have to be earned. So I was trying to create a little bit of art magic with this piece, where if someone is sitting here, then you — the viewer — must listen to them without prejudice, with acceptance, with grace, which is something you have to find within yourself.

So if this project had a goal, it was to deepen empathy, expand perspective, and let art be the vehicle that pulled people together into a more inclusive community.”

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Jewgirl is so beautiful, soulful and brilliant. You should definitely read the rest of her profile! Here is the link: The Driftwood Whisperer

If you enjoy it, PLEASE leave some love over at JUDITH so the artist can see it. There is no paywall.

Okay, fam. I will be back with you on Monday. May you have a peaceful, beautiful, restorative Sabbath!

Shabbat Shalom.

Am Yisrael Chai.