Tammie Rubin

Rubin’s artwork delves into narratives of Black American citizenry, migration, autonomy, longing, and faith. A sculpture in the exhibition, Sunday Morning Offerings No. 1 (2023), made from a wooden church pew, resin, and peanuts, references the landscape of the American South and Black church culture. The saturated blue hues seen in the exhibition reflect Rubin’s relationship with spirituality: “It resonates and vibrates;” For some, religion/church is a power structure to escape from, while for others, it offers a spiritual community through which to escape from the difficulties of the world. Highlighting the juxtaposition one is confronted with when sitting on a pew; there are feelings of relief and exclusivity, comfort and discomfort, relaxation and anguish. Using intricate motifs, Rubin often returns to themes relating to ritual, domestic, and liturgical objects.