Meet Caron Greenblatt | Caron Greenblatt Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caron Greenblatt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caron, why did you pursue a creative career?
I did not start out pursuing art as a career. I just wanted to make art and to find my unique and personal imagery. Art-making is a force to be reckoned with, it draws one in and keeps pushing and challenging. So I keep on making art and keep trying to find my imagery.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I spent many of my formative years as an artist studying technique: drawing, color- mixing, art history and so on. It was only much later on that I began to integrate all of that with an inner desire at expression. Perhaps it was at a time of acute personal stress that brought this integration into being. When my children faced incredible danger, I began to rethink the meaning of Motherhood. I began questioning the basic nature of the Mother-child relationship, and looked to art history for imagery expressing this position. As Motherhood is a central and primal expression of our humanness, I looked to primary and primordial visual sources for inspiration. These sources triggered memory and visual associations which continue to lead to a surprising and personal imagery.
When art comes from a deep personal place the best I can hope for is that it meets the viewer in a similar place. I search therefore for platforms which present a similar narrative to mine. I have showcased my work at The Museum of Motherhood (M.O.M.) an organization which researches Motherhood from many angles, I’ve taken part in poetry events and poetry and art magazines which often speak a similar language to me and I’ve shared my work in group shows which explore image making from it’s source. I continue to search for platforms, not solely or necessarily galleries, but also other areas which broaden the conversation.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Jerusalem and I find it a most unassuming city. Visitors may come here with a pre-conceived notion but it’s as surprising a place as they come. The most interesting, exciting and intriguing part of this city is it’s people. Life happens here on the streets, in the open and not behind closed doors. You will meet a broad range of cultures, religions, tastes and colors everywhere you go, on the streets and busses, in the bars, restaurants and parks. For me the best time of the year is Spring, where the days are warming up and the evenings are cool with a slight breeze, It is a time of renewal and hope. As numerous are the cultures so are the food dishes. I’d suggest you leave your diet at home and explore the warm hospitality of Jerusalem’s residents through their food. There is definitely something for everyone. As for the art, it is constantly evolving. It plays off the relationship between the ancient and the contemporary. The connection to tradition and the need for community is what holds this place together and keeps it noisy and alive.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My immediate family are very supportive of my chosen path. I have also been very lucky to have had many wonderful art teachers who inspire me to this day. From my undergraduate studies at the University of Johannesburg, to my studies at the Jerusalem Studio School and subsequently at the Kollel School for Contemporary Painting in Tel Aviv and artist residencies and courses in Italy and most lately at the New York Studio School. These schools and their community of teachers and students influenced me at different periods of my development. Art is not a solitary profession, but one that is created within a shared space, with the aim to create open and honest conversation.

Website: https://carongreenblatt.wixsite.com/artwork

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caron.greenblatt/

Image Credits
Caron Greenblatt