Robert Ruby

'The brush becomes him.' The 'BRUSH WITH FAME' numbered series (2023) evolved from its precursor titled 'BRUSH WITH FAME' (2020). Each piece showcases the brush(es) of one artist from a collection of participating artists from around the world, so far including Canada, USA, Poland, France, England, Australia, Germany and Italy. Some of these artists have a lot of fame, and some have very little. Some want fame, and some don't care. For some it simply eluded them while others are new on the scene. What they have in common is that they were all used by the contributing artists to spread paint, whisk out details, and apply varnishes and adhesives. They have seen early mornings and late nights, and thier acquired patinas and bruises have stories to tell. These the instuments used to create art on canvases and panels and assemblages, some of which remain stored in studios, while others hang on gallery walls, adorn the spaces of patrons and collectors from around the world, and are featured in office boardrooms and art publications everywhere.

Part of the 'Mechanics of Meaning' series (2023. Settling into living with his new sense of normal with a life-changing ABI (Acquired Brain Injury), the white-haired boy eventually learned to watch for one of the indicators that would set him off; the self-imposed pressure to be who he once was. Knowing that reaching the higher levels of thought that he once achieved was no longer possible, he recalled what William James wrote, that “the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” And so he began to choose his thoughts.

Part of the "Mechanics of Meaning' series. The white-haired boy already knew about what C. JoyBell C. wrote, that “Our bodies have five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing. But not to be overlooked are the senses of our souls: intuition, peace, foresight, trust, empathy." What he didn't know was how to navigate life without his senses of taste or smell until one day he read that when some of our senses are lost, the remaining senses become more enhanced. So, this is what he chose to believe.

Part of 'The Mechanics of Meaning' series. (2023) You might 'feel' like you are a side-show freak, and conspicuous and vulnerable she said to the white-haired boy, and “Owning our story can be hard, but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy — the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” (Brene Brown)