Nisenan Heritage Day – HOME

October 31, 2019November 1, 2019 by Ruth Chase

THIS FRIDAY – SATURDAY

Homelands: Restoration*Sovereignty Recognition ~ Art Reception
Friday, November 1, 6 -10 PM
Nevada City Winery: 321 Spring St, Nevada City

Inspired by the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe’s desire to collaborate with local artists. A group exhibition of art that reflects positive social change and the power of art to transform a community and bring visibility to the tribe.
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Panel Discussion and Interviews with Shelly Covert and Ruth Chase
HOME at Nisenan Heritage Day
Saturday, November 2, 10-4PM Panel Discussion 11-12 PM
Sierra College: 250 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley
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CHIRP in collaboration with the Nevada County Arts Council HOME will be filming at Nisenan Heritage Day. Come join the conversation and learn more about Visibility Through Art.

Made possible in part from a California Arts Council grant (Artist in Communities), HOME is a project that brought in NCAC Artist in Residence, Ruth Chase, for artist-to-artist mentoring sessions and workshops for this year’s Visibility Through Art participants. Tribal members were paired with local artists and together, art was created through these unique pairings.

To learn more about CHIRP and the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan: www.nisenan.org

PARTICIPATING TRIBE MEMBERS
Ginger Covert, Lorena Davis, Sarah Thomas, Saxon Thomas, Cassandra Johnson, Shelly Covert, Karen McCluskey, and Richard Johnson. IN SPIRIT, Dutch Rose, Carmel, Jackson Rose, Alberta “Birdie” Gallez, and Maryann Start.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Nikila Badu, Bo Blain, Andy Cerrona, Ruth Chase, Mira Clark, Rama Cryer, Jose Dominguez, Indigo Donaldson, Jenny Hale, Jessa Hurst, Dani Joy, Jarod Kane, Ron Kenedi, Lori Lachman, Bishop Randall, Teighlor Renee Anderson, Jennifer Rugge, Miles Toland, Alyssa Walz, Leilani Webb, and Chloe Young.

70308979_377465316260313_945605911425056768_n - Andrew Cerrona — Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribal Council Member Saxon Thomas sharing the gift of Nisenan language with his children. The Nisenan language is being reclaimed and revitalized.
Photo Credit: Jessica Thomas
In photo: Saxon Thomas and his children

NEW WORK

October 23, 2019November 6, 2019 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.

Working with images that women have submitted allows me to step back and see a broader view of the female experience. I use social media as a communal aspect of my process that takes me out of the isolation of my studio and expands my understanding of women outside of my own experiences.

“Finding Another Way” 40 x 60″

“Innocence is a Privilege” 55 x 55″

“Adore Me”

“Introvert” 42 x 42”

“Coming of Age” 36 x 36

“I AM HERe” Art Installation

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. The public was invited to share their own stories about themselves or the women in their lives by participating in the public art installation.

I Belong Here Installation

I Belong Here Instalation

UPCOMING EXHIBITION – ECHOES: FROM THERE TO HERE
San Francisco Art Institute — Diego Rivera Gallery
800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco

On View: Through November 24th.
Opening Reception: Thursday, NOV. 14, 2019, 5 – 8PM

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.

RSVP 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.

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, 2019July 3, 2019 by Ruth Chase

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

Painted in collaboration with Elaine Love Leslie by Ruth Chase. The painting reflects her life story and the wisdom she has as a result of growing up in Venice, CA. This was the final painting in the West of Lincoln Project, completed in early 2017. Painted by Ruth Chase.

Channeling My Work

September 26, 2018May 11, 2019 by Ruth Chase

One of my first portraits from back in the day.

When I started painting, I would follow a voice that would come forth from a spirit on the other side asking me to see them. I had no idea what I was doing, I would just paint, in time I understood that I could use channeling from nonphysical energy to guide my work. I remember distinctly that this spirit was eager to be seen and released. While I still use this method in some of my work, I am so much more aware of what is happening and far more particular of who and what I channel.

“White Face”
oil on canvas
6 x 4′
1990
by Ruth Chase
Ocampo Collection

Early Work >

What Does It Mean To Be A Woman

August 26, 2018September 20, 2019 by Ruth Chase Leave a comment

What does it mean to be a woman, a question I have never explored until this very moment.

From an early age, I noticed that being a “girl” put me in a place of vulnerability and I was very aware that physical danger was awaiting me if I wasn’t careful. So as a young adult “woman” I would make sure that my clothes and persona were tough enough to scare away predators.

Now I look back and see that it wasn’t until bearing a child, at the age of 40, that I began to connect with my womanhood. I was getting in touch with my body and its functions specific to having a child and becoming awakened to the physical characteristics that make me a WOMAN. I loved being pregnant, I loved my body and being able to hold another universe within.

I have spent a lot of time rejecting the expectations put on me by the outside world of what a woman is or should be, or should not be. I have never been sure of how I fit into the expectations of the world around me. I also, at times, did not want to own the power and blessings that come with femininity. On the inside, I felt like I hadn’t decided if I wanted to be feminine and on the outside, I knew to be a tomboy or punk sent a message to leave me alone, I’m not open for this “girl” business. Sometimes I wonder if I would have chosen to be a woman in this lifetime if I were given a choice before I was born. I suppose I have also been pissed off about being a woman, now that I think about it. So far, the most amazing thing about being a woman has been birthing my daughter, who by the way is VERY girly and VERY feminine. I’m having an ‘aha!’ moment writing this. I may even need a good cry.

Beyond the Frame – Museum of Northern California Art – Panel Discussion

July 11, 2018August 8, 2019 by Ruth Chase Leave a comment

I will have the most challenging painting I have ever made exhibiting in the Museum of Northern California Art. I am so proud to be representing VENICE in this exhibition about the value of street art to our communities.

MUSEUM OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ART
900 ESPLANADE
CHICO, CA

Beyond the Frame Panel Discussion | August 26

Beyond the Frame Exhibition
July 19 – September 2, 2018

SEE and hear more about Leonard

“Never Forget Where You Come From, Always Remember Where You’re Going” by Ruth Chase will be exhibiting this month at part of Beyond the Frame. Street art often has a reputation as part of a subculture that rebels against authority, although it can also express a political practice, and serves as just one tool in an array of resistance techniques.

Tribute Wall in VENICE

March 2, 2018January 24, 2019 by Ruth Chase

The Venice Tribute Wall provided a space for the public to share their stories, memories, and memorial related to Venice.

The West of Lincoln Project was installed at the Venice Arts Gallery. Currently, this project is seeking a permanent, semi-permanent, or other installation locations.

I am continuing to collect stories as part of the Venice Tribute Wall. Submit below and send images to> RuthChaseFineArt@Ymail.com

Today I am going to ... Venice Tribute Wall copy 9

Today I am going to ... Venice Tribute Wall copy 12

Product of environment ... Venice Tribute Wall copy 4

Beyond Baroque ... Venice Tribute Wall copy 2

What life skills ... Venice Tribute Wall

CONTACT RUTH

I BELONG HERE Pop Up Photos

February 1, 2018January 28, 2019 by Ruth Chase Leave a comment

A pop-up installation where Ruth gave hugs, postcards, and took photos.
This backdrop was painted by Ruth and photos were taken to share the value individuals have in our communities. The public was encouraged to hang their photo at home where it can be seen as a reminder of their importance.

#IBelongHere

Please email Ruth your I BELONG HERE images from wherever you are RuthChaseFineArt@ymail.com