Five Questions with AHA! Featured Artist Ruby Silvious

Born and raised in Tacloban City, Philippines, Ruby Silvious has called Coxsackie home since 2004. Married with two grown sons, Ruby studied architecture and fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. After having her first child, she went back to school to study Business Administration at Columbia-Greene Community College and subsequently got her BS in Marketing Management from Siena College. She is a graphic designer and visual artist.

1. Had you always wanted to be an artist?
I've always liked creating and working with my hands, even at an early age. Over the years, my career path led me in different directions, but I knew that at the end of it, I would be making art.

2. What has inspired you?
My practice uses a wide range of medium so my creative muse can vary on any given project. Different cultural experiences drawn from my travels have been the inspiration of some of my tea bag art.

3. How would you describe your art?
If you're referring to the art I create on found, discarded, or upcycled materials, I call it Reclaimed Canvas, like the title of my new book. I take everyday objects and turn them into canvases for art. It's as simple as that.

4. Why do you repurpose these materials?
I want viewers to keep an open mind and think beyond the boundaries of what they may consider traditional art. In today's throw-away culture, where we have immediate access to an abundance of materials and numerous mediums to choose from, all things become possible.

5. What brought you to this area/what kept you here?
My husband's employment brought us to this area. We love this town (Coxsackie) so much, we have no plans of moving anywhere, anytime soon.

You can see Ruby's artwork on AHA! A House for Arts.