Meet Jonathan Taub | Artist

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

Hi Jonathan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Hmmm… I think it has been a relationship I have continuously engaged with and I keep learning how to deal with it. Taking risks means putting myself out there. Becoming vulnerable, and open to the views and judgments of others, starting with my own self. Staying in a safe area is comfortable. On one hand, I can tell myself that I need more time to keep “perfecting” whatever I am doing. During the process, I isolate myself more and more from the outside world and this pushes me toward creating “realities” that keep me safe. Is like building castles in the air that I live in. They can be beautiful and soothing but they are also fragile and brittle to any external movement. I have learned (and keep learning) that anything that remains close to me and doesn’t see the day of light, that doesn’t meet others’ eyes, or ears, the love from others, the judgment from others, and so on, remains protected in a way… But that is not the way to grow in life. That is not the way to learn, to change and improve. It took me a lot of time to understand that the only way to become better, to have meaningful relationships, to refine the work and who I am is to take risks, to be vulnerable to put myself out there. But then again, there is this thing called ego… So there is this dance I have to learn time and time again how to do.

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Also
What value or principle matters most to you? Why?

I believe in discipline. In routine. In the building of Habits. That perfect is the enemy of good. That I should never stop learning. In the power of compound interest (in work, in relationships, in studying, in practicing). In Emunah and Bitachon. In working on being honest with myself and truthful about who I am. In staying healthy. I the importance of Family and community. In Feeding my curiosity, every day. I try to live by these things. I see that they help me navigate life and work, they are like a compass that becomes particularly handy when a storm is here and it’s hard to see beyond the bow.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been engaged over the past years in music, painting, working in some films, printmaking, and working in graphic design. The journey has been a bit hectic to be honest. For a long time, I was working in exact sciences and doing research and on the side, I would allow myself to explore more artistic disciplines. There was never a clear plan or path I was consciously following but more a need to do, to create. I think I was always seeing these as a hobby, and so I would protect them and at the same time engage with them in a more playful way, almost childlike. Then as life happened I met with opportunities and at a certain point, I started to allow myself to say yes and explore, engage and keep moving.

Painting and drawing were always a part of me since I was a kid, through my teenage years and on. I never thought of dedicating myself to it but there was always a need to do it. I remember that it was always an outlet to release, to express things I wasn’t able to articulate with words but I needed to find a place outside myself to be able to deal with. For a few years, I stopped completely… I spent a lot of time on my head and then everything came rushing down. Painting on a daily basis… Little pieces I would do EVERY morning… for years. Playing with pastel, carbons, and acrylics. Shapes, colors, layers. It allowed me to be imperfect and accept it. It allowed me to explore without labels and preconceived notions of what something should be or look like. Over the past years and after being more stationary in one place I started learning new techniques to which I have then started applying the same principles. Mixing techniques, learning the rules, and then letting them go and letting it be.

With films, something similar happened. I jumped to it without knowing really what I was getting into (and sometimes ignorance is a blessing… and this wasn’t the exception). I knew I loved watching them, I loved how so many art forms could meet in one place and how they could transport you like nothing else could (except music). I knew they are one of the best ways to tell stories, and stories are the way we have been able to transmit very deep ideas and ideas that make who we are. I had played with cameras as a teenager, learning about depth of field, diaphragms, and lenses. And that was about it. I started participating in very independent projects and being just one of a few people in the project and so one learns to do many things and it becomes the school. I learned to use editing software and started playing with that as well. My brother Leandro and I started working together years ago and being involved in different projects, interviews, mini-series, documentaries, and most recently a feature film that started touring many festivals last year. I have learned that in this field having an amazing team of people participating in the project is necessary to be able to make it happen. I learned that everything takes much more time than one can plan for and so motivated to keep going is like air, otherwise, the project will extinguish. I have been fortunate to have been involved in many of them with Leandro whose love and passion for the field have been an engine to keep them moving forward

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So, its summer time in NYC. Let’s say, Monday. The weather will be a bit unpredictable, but that is ok. There will be a lot of walking… and eating. So lets have some comfy shoes. We will start with a walk in Mccarren Park in Williamsburg and walk toward east river, finishing in Domino Park. There are a few benches, people walking their dogs, some runners and possibly some very energetic volleyball players, even at this time in the morning. The view is good and right across the river, you can see Manhattan, its iconic buildings, Williamsburgh bridge over your left shoulder if you pay attention you can even see the statue of liberty. So is not even the afternoon and we are hitting already many iconic places all at once. We will get a coffee on the way there. If you are on vacation and feel like eating pastries and muffins in the morning (not judging here) we can go to Martha’s bakery and take one to go (Kosher proof as well). There is a new trader Joe just a two blocks from there, so we can get a few snacks and a water when we are there (I won’t suggest you bring your 64 oz water… ). Then we will walk a bit north towards the ferry. Its summer, its hot, and it costs the same as the subway, so we will take the ferry and avoid being underneath the surface. Here there comes a time for decisions. I think we will do two stops and drop by Dumbo. Dumbo is good to know. Not too big, but nice. There are a few shops over there, some design stores, a cool Mexican restaurant and a carousel. We will go to the shore and relax …for 50 seconds, then you will hear that the sky is falling but is the subway coming and going above you. Walking time. Brooklyn bridge is right there. Lots of people, but is summer in NY, so lots of people everywhere. By the time we got to the other side you will be tired, possibly dehydrated and in need of a bathroom. I never said this was going to be a picnic. We will go towards Tribeca and start to walk next to Hudson. Highline, Chelsea market (eat a bit more). We will then cross towards union square, the market is happening (…I think). More food. The afternoon is already here. We will walk towards East village. There is this place called B&H Dairy that has been for over 70 years. Small, unfancy, old and delicious. Who aid you cant have borscht and Matzeball soup in the summer? Blintzes, peroguies and challa. Their carrot cake is pretty cool as well. So now you are tired, your feet feel sore, you are full and kind of sleepy. Time for music and dancing. We will walk towards Williamsburg bridge. There is this place called The Back Room. Its a speakeasies bar, hard to find but you will be glad you have Is Monday, so a jazz band will be playing live, people will be drinking beer from tea mugs and swing dancing will be allowed. So the night is over. We are done. But we are not. We have 9 blocks north, not the prettiest neighborhood nor the most beautiful place… But we made it to Ray’s candy store. All deep fried. Fried Oreos, Fried Banana, Begniets, hot fudge Sunday. I would recommend fried Apples. We are done. Make sure to have an antacid before bed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents gave me a life and keep being a voice of love and care and meaning and encouragement. My siblings, all of them have given me love, thought me, and support me in every decision I have ever made. They are present in my life. With Leandro (one of them) I have had the chance to work a lot over the past years. He taught me of hard work, and working with teams of people, and bringing things down to action. I have had many teachers, from back at school, Drum instructors like Al Wrublesky who taught about playing drums, listening, and the joy for music and teaching. I have many rabbis that inspire me with their teachings and the lives they live and the families they have built. I have had advisors and bosses that have put their trust in me and given me opportunities to do, work, and take responsibility. Like Ed and Viktor back in grad school, and Dan over the past years. Books have taught me. Failing has been a good teacher. My friends. My relationships.

Website: jtaub.com

Image Credits
Last pictures: Dabian Canales