Photograph in studio by Carlos Moreno for KCUR
Marleene Rubenstein Jerusalem, Israel Age 71
What keeps you excited in the studio? I am always excited to go to my studio! Even on those rare days when I don’t feel like working, all of my art books are there to encourage and stimulate me. I generally like to have several projects going at once. Because so much of my work is labor intensive and often repetitive I find that multiple simultaneous projects maintain my sanity.
Looking back at your trajectory as an artist, how would you say your work has developed? While I still explore, I have become more settled, (focused?) in what I want to say, and what concepts continue to motivate me.
What role do you think the artist has in today’s society? Louise Bourgeois said “ Art is life”. As artists we are a microcosm of society, unique only in our chosen manner of communication.
In 2022, my husband and I pursued a long held dream and moved from LA to Israel. Living in a new country, struggling to learn a new language and navigating a new culture, I was a typical new immigrant learning to live in a new environment. Then without warning – 10/07 happened. Like everyone here, I was frozen with horror and disbelief and couldn’t do any of my work for days. It seemed too trivial. Finally, I began to create, trying to express what this meant to me, just as other Israeli artists were doing all over the country. It has been said that “artists make the work we need before we need it.” And I think that sums up our role – we make needed work.
What’s the most important advice you could give to an aspiring artist? Persevere!
Does age matter in art? Why or why not? In a society in which youth is venerated and old age disdained – art is unique. The artist as an individual is largely invisible to the public. Only their art is seen. And the art they make gets better with experience and time.
What can we look forward to from you next? I am living in an environment that is incredibly rich and stimulating. Israel is both ancient and very modern and the people who live here are part of a rich tapestry composed of so many different cultures. I can’t wait to see what will find its way into my art making!
Is there anything else you would like to share about being an artist later in life? I only entered art school in my forties, with no prior training in art. I don’t regret my late start because I was busy with creating and raising a large family, working as a therapist in rehab medicine, and gaining a lot of life experience. All of this enters into my work today. As an older woman I am grateful for my life, freed from distractions like raising children or earning a living, and that I am able to focus on the joy (and hard work) of making art.
http://www.marleenerubenstein.com @marleenerubenstein
“Where?” tape, size 1 pajama and size 4 shorts, 2024