Author: Artist Ruth Chase

Ruth Chase is primarily a project based artist whose award winning series, West of Lincoln Project, probed into the lives of individuals who grew up in Venice, CA, sharing stories of adversity transformed into valuable life wisdom. She is a California-based painter that uses biographical portraiture to communicate stories of compassion, and valuable insight that promotes positive social change. Her work includes the use of social media in her creative process to stimulate conversation around human value, as well as engaging the public to actively participate in the final outcome of her work.

Video of West of Lincoln Project

by Artist Ruth Chase

 

 

 

Paintings by Ruth Chase | Writing by Gena Lasko

The West of Lincoln Project reveals the wisdom that comes from growing up in Venice. Born and raised in Venice herself, Ruth presents an authentic and intimate view of the Venice community.

12 individual painted portraits of people who grew up in Venice: Meta Zimmerman, Brad James, Fernando Manzanilla, David Fowler, Rhonda Lynn Wise, Eddie Hadvina, Leonard Duran, Elaine Leslie, Solo Scott, Gloria Olivas Omar, an untold story, and Ruth Chase.

Participants:

Ric Clayton, Jenny Moore-Prather, Anna M. McGuirk, Ananda Jaynes with Mom, Noah Pachnowski, Dylan Pachnowski, Jon Reneau, Mark Rosenberg for Cheapskates, Doug Mug Swanson, Hassan DeSalles with Jason Sugars, Michael Cramer, Monica Leyba, Joey Leyba, Salvador Gonzales, Shannon Robinson LeFort for Bob Dean Robinson, Xavier Rimmington, Campbell Rimmington, Christina Brunk Stroh for J.Kevin Brunk, Bingwa, Stacy McDannold, Bernardo Charca, Jeff Cody Morris, Colleen Graham, Dale Henderson, Jim Fallon & Brady Dalton, Melanie Camp & Tricka, Luciano Mota, Carolyn Rios, Roxanne Rossi Kovak, Tamira L. James, Beth Allyn/MsVenice, Kristina Peterson, Renee Smith, Carrie Hayrup for Eugene Tarango, Laura Ceballos, Richard (Dopey) Cortez and Robert (Trippy) Ayers, Francisco Letelier, Miguel Bravo, Joann Goodwin, Sybil Roberson and Denise Woods.

BIG THANKS to Ray Rae, David Scott, Mathew Martin, Care Burns, and Steven Luciano for use of their photos.

ALSO to Denise Woods who transcribed the interviews, and Carl Jacobs for a grant to produce the project. To the private doner and Joanne Neft whose contrabutions made this project possible.

Photo credit Dee Anne Dinelli

 

W e s t  of  L i n c o l n  Project

logo-for-web

August 5 – September 1

Opening Reception | Saturday, August 5, 4 – 8pm
13445 Beach Ave., Venice Marina, CA

 

Growing Up in V E N I C E by Ananda Jaynes

by Artist Ruth Chase

My name is Ananda Jaynes, the image I submitted is of myself, my mother and my half-brother walking down the boardwalk, taken about 5 years before my mother passed away of cervical cancer.

Ananda Jaynes copy

I was given the honor of scattering both my mothers and my brother’s ashes down at the breakwater. My brother Dylan (right) died when he was 13 by drowning while he was body surfing. He was high on angel dust and was missing for over a week, before he’s body washed up at Bay St. In Santa Monica. My mother never fully CDAA1252-0EBB-4715-8F63-768C943C2026recovered from having a child that died before she did. This is a special memory to me because it is a picture of my mother and myself (left) while my mother was still healthy, from a time when I remember Venice as it was. My mother always said that once you live in Venice you will always return because its inside of your heart. Today, no matter where I travel or live, Venice does remain in my heart and my true home.

Black and white image was the last image of  Dylan taken by David Scott

 

 

W e s t  of  L i n c o l n  Project

logo-for-web

August 5 – September 1

Opening Reception | Saturday, August 5, 4 – 8pm
13445 Beach Ave., Venice Marina, CA

 

 

Artist Activating Communities

by Artist Ruth Chase Leave a comment

I’m still in a bit of shock, however, let me share the good news.

While I am wrapping up West Of Lincoln Project for it’s August exhibition at Venice Arts, I will officially be starting a second project in Nevada County, CA.

Generously funded in part by California Arts Council through its Artists Activating Communities Program.

In the year to come I will be in an artist-in-residence with Nevada County Arts Council for a project called BELONGING, mobilizing perspectives on our most sensitive issues, whether climate change or cannabis farming, land ethics or displacement – and what it means to be indigenous.

I INVITE YOU to keep informed of opportunities to participate in this award-winning project, and to share images, stories and opinions in the group I have formed as part of a collaboration with the community. GO TO FACEBOOK GROUP BELONGING >

 

Nevada County Arts Coucil logo 2017