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Today the Venice Paparazzi spotlight is on Ruth Chase.  Ruth is the mastermind creator of the West of Lincoln project, an art installation that traces the roots of Venice’s through the lives of the people that grew up here. It is set to open on Aug. 5, 2017.
How many years in Venice?  From 1965 – 2013
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18425075_10155296821519481_1850774739558867833_nTell us about your business or art!     I am primarily a project based artist, and just completed the West of Lincoln Prject. My work is about the environment and human spirit.   I am drawn to subjects that are self-aware,and who hold a strong belief system. Nothing gives me greater joy than to work in collaboration with people from all points of view.
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How you got into it?  How I got into it is a long story, to make it short, I used art school to keep me clean from drugs. Then realized I loved making art and kept it going until it became a career. What I love about what I do is that my work focuses on the world around me rather than on me directly.
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What projects are you working on now?  A project called BELONGING, funded in part by California Arts Council through its Artists Activating Communities Program.  In the year to come, I will lead an artist-in-residence with Nevada County Arts for a new initiative called Belonging. A similar template to the West of Lincoln Project ,  this will be located in a small town located in northern California.
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What are your goals for the future?  My goal for the future is to stay healthy and live long so I can see my daughter grow up.
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13230163_10154173195559481_3443967461462195951_nAny achievements or accomplishments that you want to share?  Other than raising a daughter in a healthier environment than I was raised, it has been the West of Lincoln Project.
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What/who inspires you?   Over the past two years Meta Zimmerman, Brad James, Fernando Manzanilla, David Fowler, Rhonda Lynn Wise, Eddie Hadvina, Leonard Duran, Elaine Leslie, Solo Scott, and Gloria Olives Omar have been my inspiration. I interviewed all of them about their lives, and learned valuable life lessons from each of them, wisdom I live by to this day.
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Favorite affirmation, mantra, or quote.  The best teacher you could ever have is yourself asking the right questions.

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Favorite book, band or movie?  

  • Movie “Life is Beautiful”
  • Book “Anthem” by Ayn Rand
  • Artist “Kerry James Marshall”
  • Song “Slip” by Elliot Moss
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20543161_10155569053374481_632619507_oWhat’s one thing we can do to make the world a better place?  Is to remember that we all live in different realities, and for the most part we all want similar things.
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Finish off the statement “Life is…  malleable.
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What do you do on your days off?   How do you treat yourself?  Most of my time off is spent with my daughter and husband. I wish I treated myself better.
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Describe Venice.  Venice is a mix of realities all happening at once. The culture on the boardwalk is different from the people who grew up there, as is the viewpoint from residents that moved there as an adult. If you think you know Venice from only one of these perspective then you are not seeing Venice in it’s full spectrum of chaotic color.
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Describe your perfect day in Venice: (start from morning to night). Sunrise to the Cow’s End  for coffee, then to the V Pier and beach for a  stroll, roll back to the neighborhood, stopping to say hi to people on the way home. Long day in the studio making art, with a wind down of the day having dinner at a friends house.
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What are some interesting destinations/activities in Venice that even locals might not be aware of? Hidden Venice treasures?  Hmmmm those are never given out publicly, but rather word of mouth. Shhhhhh.
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Favorite Venice food items, and from where?  Hinano’s for a beer an burger, Hal’s for caesar salad, fries with mustard and mayo, and a martini,  Erewhon for to go food.
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Your favorite Venice event(s), activities or happy places?  The beach and my friends houses are by far my happy places. It used to be my moms kitchen when she was alive..
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What is your craziest or fondest Venice experience?  The craziest ones may not be appropriate for this venue. One memory that was pretty cool was watching the Olympic torch run by on Windward Ave. at a distance that I could almost touch. Another would be the level of silence that happened during the LA riots when Venice had a curfew.
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Who should Venice Paparazzi cast the spotlight on next?  Lynn Warchafsky of Venice Arts.
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Fan and follow Ruth Chase!   ruthchase.com

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