Unbreakable Light Meditations disguised as paintingd by Ruth Chase Galerie Tangerine
The Only Place You Belong Is In The Moment, acrylic, wax on canvas, 18 x 18″
August 13 – October 29
Artist’s Reception Thursday, September 3, 6-8 pm
Artist’s Talk Date to be announced
Unbreakable Light is a solo exhibition of paintings, “Light Keepers” and video by Ruth Chase, showcasing her newest and most recent work, all of it driven by her deepening fascination with light: its mystery, its science, and its role as a sustaining life force. The more Chase researched and questioned, the more inscrutable the concept of light appeared. Though present in every culture, every religion and every personal experience, its presence defies rudimentary explanation. Rather than resolve the conundrum of light and its ever-present properties, Chase’s work moves around and through it, vacillating between the visible and the invisible, the known and the sensed.
Galerie Tangerine 900 King Hollands Ave, Suite 104 Nashville, TN 37203
hu·tum kʉle is an interdisciplinary work combining painting and video as two interconnected parts of the same experience. Together, they explore dreaming as a source of guidance, healing, memory, and spiritual knowledge within Nisenan culture.
“In our culture, we are dreamers, where we learn new languages, and new things through our dreams.”
— Saxon Thomas, Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council, Member at Large
Developed through dialogue with Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Members, the work reflects stories and shared understandings of dreams as a place where knowledge, warnings, language, and connection can emerge.
The Dreamers Show Us The Path acrylic, wax on canvas, 24 x 24 Created for HUSWEJ Collection
‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts & Culture 225 Broad Street Nevada City, CA 95959
The painting depicts two hovering figures above ˀuƀa seo (Yuba River), with ˀestom janim (Marysville Buttes), the Ancestral Homelands of the Nisenan, in the distance. The darker figure suggests the Creator, spirit presence, or contact with the dream world, while the lighter outlined figure — drawn from a photograph of Lorena Davis — represents the dreamer.
Surrounding herbs reference the role of the dreamer, sometimes called the “Knock Down Person,” who returns from dreams carrying knowledge that could help the Tribe: healing plants, migration guidance, or warnings of danger.
“I was once visited by my late husband, John, who came to me in a dream to share a very important part of my future that helped me at a difficult time in my life.”
— Lorena Davis, Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council
The video expands the work through the voices and presence of Tribal Members, creating a living dialogue between landscape, memory, dreams, and image. Rather than functioning separately, the painting and video inform one another — each revealing dimensions of the other that cannot exist alone.
“I believe that we are visited through our dreams.”
— Cindy Buero, Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Member
There is an exhibition that is the result of an eight month journey I’ve been on with California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP), “The Story of Land, Water, and People.”
In the Summer of 2023, it was so exciting to create and co-lead an outdoor experience at Sierra Friends Center/ Woolman in Nevada City, CA where the Tribal youth and elders went into the woods to create art installations with a focus on belonging to the environment.
This experience was part of a larger program to engage in Cultural practices and protocols as tools for healing, Cultural revitalization, and trauma mitigation.
I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity to amplify Nisenan narratives through the Arts. This journey has instilled in me a profound appreciation for the transformative ability of storytelling through artistic expression.
Working with Shelly Covert, Saxon Thomas, Mira Clark, and the Tribal Elders through weekly workshops, online and at ‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts and Culture, has been a very powerful experience.
Using the power of art to engage in meaningful dialogue, to heal, and to educate the public and ourselves transform lives.
Funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, through the Upstate California Creative Corps program and builds upon CHIRP’s Visibility Through Art initiative. It fosters collaborations between artists and Tribal culture bearers to increase public awareness and engage the community in discussions about Tribal social justice, Nisenan history, and environmental issues related to water and land.
I am a California Creative Corps Grantee through my work with CHIRP.
Saving the best for last……
The exhibition is the result of a journey the Tribe embarked on through a series of gatherings and workshops that centered on discussions about land, water, and people. The eight-month exchange resulted in the creation of paintings, drawings, beadwork, film, and sculpture.
OPENING ART RECEPTION Saturday, March 16th, 6- 9:30 pm
EXHIBITING Nisenan Tribal Member Artists: Shelly Covert, Ginger Covert, Lorena Davis, Sarah Thomas, Cindy Buero, Debra McBrien, Saxon Thomas Participating Artists: Nikila Badua, Maile Claire, Mira Clark, Ruth Chase, Jan-Michelle Sawyer Native | Nisenan Special Guest Artists: Tiffany Adams and Deerstine Madrone Suehead
The Story of Land, Water, and People will build on the foundation of CHIRP’s Visibility Through Art (VTA) initiative. This project coordinates collaborations among artists and Tribal Culture bearers to increase public awareness and engage the public related to social justice, through the lens of environment-related issues including, land, water, and people.
In addition, non-Tribal artists collaborated individually with CHIRP on artworks to create respectful and reflective works. These conversations come to light in this exhibition by utilizing art as the conduit. This event will promote the visibility of important Tribal social justice issues and expand conversations.
This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, through the Upstate California Creative Corps program, administered by Nevada County Arts Council.
My art on 9th and O St. is an extension of my studio paintings and video work that reevaluate the roles women have resisted and submitted — highlighting the wisdom women embody beyond limited role models.
I opened the mail today and found this certificate of appreciation for the West of Lincoln Project. Not sure what it means other than it felt great to have it in writing from an unexpected source.
Brad James was the first to be painted for The West of Lincoln Project, following my ownself-portrait. He offered to tell his story and have me paint it before anyone else had agreed to participate. Brad and I met as little kids, crossing paths at the local church and the church summer camps. I remember Brad was there when I was learning how to smoke pot behind the church in a refrigerator box someplace out of sight of the adults. Over the years, I wouldn’t see much of Brad until we worked together on this project in 2015.
Brad James & Ruth Chase 2015, Venice, CA
Brad James
1967 | Beach Ave.
I relate to the wolf because of its strength, speed, and because my brothers and I were raised like a wolf pack in Dogtown.
The most challenging thing about growing up in Venice was deciphering the truth from everybody else’s BS. At home, on the streets; it seemed like just about everybody was either lying or they were making up stuff in their heads. I would question my own reality. “Can I trust my brothers? Can I trust anyone?” I should be able to trust family, but it didn’t always seem that way. My brothers were in the Venice Hoodlums. Having those guys to look up to was insane. I thought that was the road I would go down, not realizing I had a choice. I just thought that was the way it was: You’re going to get a tattoo; you’re gonna get your name; you’re gonna be bigger than life; people are going to fear you, and kick every ass that steps in front of you and keep moving. When I heard someone say “Brad, you don’t have to get jumped in, you were born in!” I realized I didn’t ask to be in this, I was born into this. Venice was my world, but eventually, I came to realize that all I wanted to do was to be a better person. Now I help people around me, like my friends by being of service, when someone is tripping, to help walk them out of it. Recovery is a circle. You go through it, you learn from it, then you come out of it. That pretty much sums up a lot of my life: Sometimes good men do bad things, which don’t make them bad. We were all influenced by our surroundings.
Today, I live not too far from Venice. I work maintenance and operations for a Southern California School District. I will always call Venice my home.
“Fear Is A Liar” Inspired by Brad James, Painted by Ruth Chase – Neft Collection
Painted in collaboration with Brad James by Ruth Chase. This is the second of 12 portraits in the West of Lincoln Project. The painting reflects the wisdom Brad has as a result of growing up in Venice, CA. The content of the picture came from an interview taken by Ruth, along with daily phone calls and texts to Brad about how best paint his story. Brad’s biography was written by Gena Lasko.
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