The West of Lincoln Project

A Community Oral History and Art Project About Venice, California

The West of Lincoln Project is a community-based art and oral history project documenting the lived experiences of people who grew up in Venice, California. Developed over two years and involving more than 300 participants, the project preserves local history through paintings, audio interviews, biographies, community storytelling, and public participation. The project was awarded an Individual Artist Grant from the Carl Jacobs Foundation and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles. 

Project Highlights

  • 2015–2017
  • 300+ community participants
  • 12 biographical portraits
  • Audio interviews and oral histories
  • Venice Tribute Wall community archive
  • Carl Jacobs Foundation Grant Recipient
  • Certificate of Appreciation, City of Los Angeles
  • Venice Arts Solo Exhibition
  • Press coverage in LA Weekly, The Argonaut, HuffPost Arts & Culture, Professional Artist Magazine, Blogtown Review, Yo! Venice, Radio Venice, Artillery Magazine and others. 
Paintings that accompanied audio and video.

At a time when Venice was undergoing rapid change, The West of Lincoln Project created a space for longtime residents to share personal histories, memories, and lessons learned growing up in the community. The project preserved stories that might otherwise have been lost and provided an opportunity for participants to see their experiences reflected in a public exhibition. 

Selected Press
LA WEEKLY   |   THE ARGONAUT   |   YO! VENICE  |  PROJECT ART BOOK sold out

Project merch upon request.

All Featured West of Lincoln Portraits

Painter Ruth Chase traces the history of Venice through the life stories of people who grew up in Venice, California, as told through paintings and audio interviews by Chase, and accompanying biographical texts written by Gena Lasko. There are 12 featured portraits and one painting with audio in the "West of Lincoln Project" installation.

Venice Tribute Wall

TELL ME, what is your V E N I C E story?  Do you have a photo, experience, memorial, selfie, poem, a sort of love letter to Venice, or want to share a story about someone in the community that has had a positive impact on you or others?  

Inspired by The Oakwood District

“Untitled” acrylic on canvas, 36  x 36”,  2017 This canvas is to pay tribute to the history of the Oakwood district in Venice. African American residents of Oakwood have made valuable and important contributions to the development of Venice’s unique cultural fabric and history. The West of Lincoln Project is incomplete without this story being told,…