Lee Rubenstein

I have always loved art and, in fact, minored in Art History in college.  In 2014, I decided to become an active participant rather than a passive observer and finally put brush to canvas. One result is the painting pictured here, which I have titled “Keeping Quilt.”

My paintings are a part of my legacy to my kids and grandkids. With that in mind, I recalled a book I used to read to my children when they were little—The Keeping Quilt, by Patricia Polacco.  Published in 1988, the book has a timeless message: a quilt was repurposed and handed down not only as a legacy from generation to generation, but also as a metaphor for handing down customs and traditions.

That in turn prompted a memory for me:  When I was a kid, my grandmother would take a quilt she had brought from Europe and tuck me in to keep me safe and warm when I’d visit and sleep over on cold winter nights.  That memory, in turn, prompted me to paint the 20x16 picture you see.

During these times we could all use a security blanket.