West of Lincoln Project

Venice Arts Gallery Left Wall West of Lincoln Project by Ruth Chase copy

August 2015 – August 2017
Documents life growing up in Venice, CA and the powerful insights that come from street smarts in a multimedia installation of paintings, audio, video, social media engagement, the Venice Tribute Wall, and written biographies. Awarded a grant for an Individual Artist through the Carl Jacobs Foundation and a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles.

The project was more than two years in the making and involved over 300 participants, each of whom was chosen to convey different perspectives and a broad spectrum of experiences. Like Chase, these subjects grew up and attended school in Venice. Chase worked in an ongoing collaboration with each individual to create painted biographical portraits, using her artistic skills to be in service to the community of Venice.

Paintings that accompanied audio and video.
Paintings that accompanied audio and video.
Certificate of Appreciation Ruth Chase

The West of Lincoln Project was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles, and grant recipient from The Carl Jacobs Foundation.

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

West of Lincoln Biographical 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 – West of Lincoln Project Installation

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,…