Dear Sadie – Covid Diary

March 18, 2020April 3, 2020 by Ruth Chase 1 Comment

This a daily account of artist and mother, Ruth Chase. A post a day about her experiences during the Covid-19 during social distancing. Living in Northern California between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Feel free to comment or write you’re own daily experience at the bottom of the page.

Self Portrait by Adrienne — Photo by Adrienne

APR 3, 2020

Catastrophic thinking and conspiracy theories.

Dear Sadie,
The sky is not falling. Big shit is happening on an energetic level, maybe even crazy stuff that is unimaginable. And while there may be some truth in a few of these claims the way they are reported makes any of it unbelievable. For example, I am not a fan of 5G and there could be some impact 5G is doing, but the extreme news and the lack of hard evidence with these news claims make any link to 5G look ridiculous. And the whole thing feels more like fake news and covert reporting to tear people apart rather than anything. I know fear is driving this, so I think I will stay away from all of this to maintain my sanity.

News: Engineer intentionally derails train near L.A. hospital ship over coronavirus conspiracy theory, feds say.

“A Fake Pandemic”: Anti-Vaxxers Are Spreading Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories

Coronavirus has conspiracy theorists and anti-5G campaigners working overtime

MAR 31, 2020

Dear Sadie,
I let myself feel like crap the past few days because that’s just how all of this felt, crappy. Now I feel like I can focus on what is and go with the flow a bit more. Humans are amazing, how they flex, resist, and reshape to their environment. I have never been so aware of my spit, my hands, and how my throat feels. Thank you COVID.

MAR 30, 2020

Dear Sadie,
It’s a Monday morning and that means Ryan off to work, thank goddess he has a bit of work he can do safely. And Adrienne will do homeschool, that finally started and she really needs it to keep her focused on something other than her phone. For me, I am working on a few online classes, also working on the HOME project, and a couple of side projects I volunteered to do for Nevada County Arts Council. Big exhale.

I woke up with another level of awareness about how to handle Covid19 properly when cleaning, washing food, etc… I’m going to have to assume that what we have been doing was effective so I don’t freak myself out.

MAR 27, 2020

Dear Sadie,
I HAVE NOTHING I WANT TO SAY OTHER THAN I’M UNCOMFORTABLE.

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT SECLUSION

March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 by Ruth Chase

It takes 3-5 days, or more to embrace it
You may feel lost, not knowing what to do
You will feel things you did realize you felt
Random memories will begin to surface
Your imagination will wonder
Social media will be your companion, maybe too much
You will amaze yourself by what you create
Then you may wonder why you were amazed
You will know yourself better
You will long for real people
You may comfort eat and drink
You will emerge with a new outlook

My life as an artist in the studio, a 35 year practice and counting.

Art + Activism Online Classes

March 14, 2020April 3, 2020 by Ruth Chase

BIOGRAPHICAL PORTRAITURE
Creating narrative for art-making that is inspired through an interview.

Biographical Portraiture (BP) is the use of personal or collective biography to create an artwork. It can be literal or symbolic. Interviewing the subject is a tool used to gather content to depict a story, theme, commentary, or perspective. Research can be an alternative tool for gathering information other than an interview. While BP is often used to portray a single person, it can also illustrate themes and topics that reflect social issues. This class includes a followup phone call with Ruth.

BP is for artists working in any medium, looking for a new and inspiring way to create portraiture that incorporates storytelling. This class will provide useful tools that will push the traditional portrait and offer an exciting way of working that can be used for a single picture or for engaging the public on a broader scope. Best suited for artists who have a medium they’re already familiar with. The workshop that follows BP is Making Art in Service to Community, a workshop that dives deeper into the practices of working with others to create commentary.

BP is a two-part class. In this first class, we cover the basics of BP by practicing with someone you know first. In the second class, Making Art In Service To Community, we cover a more in-depth understanding of BP and working with the public.

Key skills you will learn

What is BP
The difference between Subject and Content
Working with real people in collaboration
How to conduct an interview that will provide content for your work
Using symbolism for storytelling

WHERE: Online at your convenience
WHEN: Wednesday, April 8, 11 AM followup ZOOM meeting optional
COST: BY DONATION ONLY

FACEBOOK PAGE

REGISTER for Online Class – Biographical Portraiture

This class includes a series of five videos that contain four lessons. Four PDF printouts, and a followup phone appointment with Ruth. PLEASE pay only what you can. Upon purchasing you will receive an email from Ruth with the link and password to begin.

$5.00

“Biographical Portraiture online class was an enriching experience for me as an artist and organizer, and also left me with excellent questions to explore in my own work. I found it added impeccable depth to the conversation of how to engage with telling other’s stories in a respectful, collaborative, and meaningful way. Ruth teaches with passion, expertise, inquiry, and honesty, all these traits combine fora compelling and invigorating experience any artist wanting to expand their work will appreciate.”

Mira Clark
Artist | Visibility Through Art Coordinator for CHIRP
existinspired.com

CREATING POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE PROJECTS

How do you take your current creative practice as a painter, photographer, sculptor, and turn it into something that can create positive social change? Through a series of inquiries, you will tap into a deeper sense of who you are and the resources you already have. In this two-hour interactive workshop, you will unravel the missing link between your medium and it becoming a community project. We will also review funding resources.
Let’s explore the missing pieces and how to turn your work into a community bridge-building project that can attract funding.

WHERE: ZOOM Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 11 AM
COST: Free or by donation

FACEBOOK PAGE

REGISTER FOR Creating Positive Social Change Projects

Any donation is appreciated. I will email you instructions for the class within 24 hours.

$5.00

“I attended Ruth’s workshop at the Business of Art. If only this class were longer, I could have spent all day working with Ruth”

Carol Turner
Artist | Community Activist

MORE CLASSES ON THE WAY

HOME – OF/BY/FORALL and #Miami

March 2, 2020March 2, 2020 by Ruth Chase

Last week Eliza Tudor of Nevada County Arts Council, Tracy Pepper of Color Me Human, Donn K. Harris of California Arts Council, and I were in #Miami for four days joining the #changenetwork of OF/BY/FORALL.

Miami of by for all ruth chase — Ruth, Tracy, Donn

ECHOES: From There to Here

November 4, 2019December 28, 2019 by Ruth Chase

Ruth Chase
“Introvert”
Acrylic on canvas with audio
2018

ECHOES: FROM THERE TO HERE
Alumni Exhibition
San Francisco Art Institute — Diego Rivera Gallery
800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco

Curated by: Timothy Berry and Jeremy Morgan

On View: November 11 – 24, 2019
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 14, 5 – 8 PM

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) faculty, Timothy Berry and Jeremy Morgan present ECHOES: From There to Here.

I AM HERe Installation

May 15, 2019September 20, 2019 by Ruth Chase Leave a comment

Women in a Rural County

Women are an essential part of any community, yet their sense of belonging is often tied into gender roles, not always satisfying their sense of belonging. Mother, sister, partner, we all have women in our lives. I AM HERe is intended to mirror the voices of how men and women view women’s unique sense of belonging against the backdrop of our rural community. Lead artist Ruth Chase has sought to examine her own sense of belonging over the course of a year by asking questions through social media and taking her personal journey alongside the community. Now, the public is invited to share their own stories about themselves or the women in their lives by participating in the public art installation.

Virtual Ways to Connect

April 3, 2019April 3, 2020 by Ruth Chase

Join artist and social activist Ruth Chase for online and live workshops designed for community-minded artists of all mediums wanting to expand their artistic practice. During social distancing and shelter in place, Ruth is expanding her practice to connect with the world outside of her bubble through digital venues.

ONGOING – Dear Sadie, my COVID Diary
ONGOING – My Instagram IGTV
ONGOING – Nevada County Arts Council IGTV
ONGOING – Saturday Morning Question
ONGOING – Skill Share
APR 8 – Biographical Portraiture Online
APR 16 – Creating Community Project Online
MAY 8 – HOME CONVENING Free Online
ONGOING – Private Lessons Online

Continue reading “Virtual Ways to Connect”

NEW WORK

March 4, 2019January 7, 2020 by Ruth Chase

Artist Statement Ruth Chase

I struggle with the notion of what a woman is. My work explores what it means to be a woman and the struggle to understand all that entails. I create large intimate paintings from images that women have submitted and from selfies that my daughter has taken. I also create public art installations and video from public engagement projects.

Motherhood opened a world within me that is both painful and empowering. Causing me to reevaluate the roles I have resisted and submitted to, and how I see myself as a woman.

Using my daughters’ selfies, I am able to capture the complexity of the mother/daughter relationship. Experiencing my daughter’s adolescence has awoken memories, causing a deep reflection on how our childhood shapes us as women, and the role vulnerability plays in our development.

Documentary ‘Belonging’ featured at Wild & Scenic Film Festival

January 17, 2019July 3, 2019 by Ruth Chase

Laura Peterson
Special to The Union
January 15, 2019

In her film, “Belonging” local artist and director, Ruth Chase documents the stories of people living in Nevada County, including Shelly Covert, spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria, Nisenan Tribe.

The film is an initiative of Nevada County Art Council and funded in part by California Arts Council through its Artists in Communities Program. Chase and Covert are scheduled to show the film during this week’s 17th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival comes to Nevada City and Grass Valley.

The pair are scheduled to participate in activities such as opening reception, art shows, fireside chats, coffee talks, workshops and film panels throughout the five-day environmental and adventure film festival that attracts filmmakers, change-makers, and activists from around the globe.

The two sat down and answered a few questions. Chase had this to say:

What inspired you to make the film, “Belonging?”

“Belonging” is about how people find a sense of belonging through the land, the earth, and the environment. I was initially interested in examining the unique connection people have with the land they were born on and if that connection changes when residing in a place other than their birthplace.

Growing Up in VENICE > Elaine Leslie

January 8, 2019December 29, 2019 by Ruth Chase

Elaine Leslie West of Lincoln Project Opening copy — “The Deeper We Go, The Brighter We Shine” painting with Elaine Leslie