Caron Tabb: A Stone In My Shoe
March 7th - June 1, 2025
A Stone in My Shoe is a collection of multimedia artwork made by Boston-area artist Caron Tabb in response to feelings of grief, compassion, and resilience. Each piece in this body of work is deeply personal but intends to resonate universally, bridging individual burdens and collective pain.
The title seeks to evoke both a physical sensation and an emotional resonance. The metaphor of a stone in one’s shoe speaks to the physical pain of something small yet persistently painful, often unnoticed by others. The sensation mirrors the universality of an unseen emotional burden, weighing on us even as we may appear outwardly composed. It straddles the personal and collective grief felt by so many.
The works, crafted entirely in white, consist primarily of fiber installations, drawing upon the rich symbolism of Judaism and textile art to explore the intersection of emotion, spirituality and personal identity.
About the Artist
Caron Tabb is a Boston-based mixed-media artist whose work explores themes of social justice, racial equality, immigration, and feminism through the lens of her Jewish heritage. Born in apartheid South Africa, Tabb was raised on a farm in Israel from the age of eight and has lived in the United States for the past two decades.
Before transitioning to art, Tabb had a long career in the nonprofit sector, focusing on social justice issues. This background deeply influences her artistic practice, leading her to create conceptual mixed-media pieces that incorporate found objects and unconventional materials. Her work often addresses complex societal issues, aiming to provoke thought and inspire change.
Throughout her career, Tabb has exhibited her work in various galleries and public spaces around the world. Notably, her 2024 collaboration with Arab-Israeli artist Nahawand Jbaren on “Memory Patches” at the Umm el-Fahem Gallery in Israel, where her pieces engaged with themes of cultural identity and the complexities of her own personal history. Her solo show “Humanity Is Not a Spectator Sport” was on view at Beacon Gallery in Boston in November 2021. In addition to her artistic endeavors, she has been involved in community art initiatives, such as the “Be the Change” project, which empowers audiences to engage with social justice issues through Jewish public art.
Tabb’s work continues to evolve, reflecting her ongoing commitment to addressing pressing social issues through the transformative power of art.