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Today the Venice Paparazzi shines a light on artist Ruth Chase.

About:  Ruth Chase is a multimedia artist whose work speaks to the value of people to their community—working with themes of belonging, visibility, and what it means to be a human. Ruth is a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute whose artistic practice is inquiry-based and engages community bridge-building. She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles for Art in Action and a grant to an individual artist from the Carl Jacobs Foundation. She was granted a residency at the Millay Colony for the Arts in NY, published in Professional Artist Magazine, Catapult Art Magazine, and Huffington Post, and has taught at the Crocker Art Museum. Ruth was a featured artist on the Dead Files TV program and was awarded an Artist in Residence at Nevada County Arts for Artist Activating Communities through a grant from the California Arts Council for three consecutive years. Her film BELONGING screened at the 18th Annual Nevada City Film Festival and Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Ruth received the Legendary Female Artist of Venice, exhibited in The Crocker Kingsley, the Museum of Northern California Art, and the Diego Rivera Gallery at the San Francisco Art Institute.

Ruth Chase was also honored with the Legendary Women Artists of Venice Award in 2020.  The award recognizes the contribution of Women to the Arts and their profound impact on society.  Save the date March 17th for the 2022 Legendary Women Artists of Venice Award ceremony at Hotel Erwin.  Details on VeniceArtCrawl.com

Let’s get to know Ruth Chase!

How many years in Venice?

Born and raised in VENICE in 1965

Give us a brief bio of yourself:

My first home was on the boardwalk next door to where Jody Maroni’s used to be located. My mother and grandmother made and sold string bikinis and dashikis from our storefront’s house. I am a mother and full time artist.

Tell us about your art. Describe your style, and what influences it?

I am a multimedia artist whose work speaks to the value of people to their community—working with themes of belonging, visibility, and what it means to be a human. I am is a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute whose artistic practice is inquiry-based and engages community bridge-building.

How many years, and how did you get into it?

Art was a way for me to escape a drug addition I had in my late teens. That is how and why I got involved in art initially, I knew I needed something to express or heal the shit I grew up in, art was a method of doing that. I never expected I would have be a professional artist my whole life. It went from art being my rehab to my career.

Biggest accomplishment or favorite show?

My biggest community and artistic accomplishment was the West of Lincoln Project, documenting 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 exhibited at Venice Arts in 2017.

Tell us about some of your favorite pieces.

West of Lincoln painting was more than two years in the making and involved over 70 participants, each who told their story of living and growing up in Venice. The painting included audio and video component.

What projects are you currently working on?

I just completed BLUR: Unraveling the Feminine, Masculine, and Everything In-between, a solo exhibition exploring identity.

A few personal questions:

Define success:

Wow, true success for me is knowing I listened and followed my heart, no matter the outcome. There is success in relationships, career, community, and life experiences.

What is the best advice you have received?

The best teacher you will ever have is yourself asking the right questions.

How are you surviving Covid-19 and the lockdowns? What moves or pivots have you made?

The day I choose faith over fear the pandemic changed for me. I invested in educating myself about natural immunity and took my health seriously, then I stoped living like a hypochondriac and listening to the news. As someone who grew up in VENCE during the 80’s I learned that day to day life is a risk, and that I am capable of managing my life with my own wisdom despite what others think I should do.

Finish off the statement “Art is…

… a tool for solving problems.

Favorite affirmation, mantra, or quote:

Nature is in a constant state of balance.

Favorite book, band or movie?

Biggest Little Farm

List 1-2 things on your bucket list?
  • Travel anywhere outside of the USA
  • Get paid for my work
Anything else you want to share about yourself to the world? Fun facts or accomplishments.

I was very honored to be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment from the City of Los Angeles for the West of Lincoln Project.

Venice Questions:

Describe Venice:

Land that has a vibrational match to change and challenge.

What do you do for fun in Venice during Covid times?

Visit with friends and hug and kiss anyone who is comfortable with kissing and hugging.

What is your craziest or fondest Venice experience?

Walking down the boardwalk in my single digits in the late 70’s amazed at all the boobs and butts barely clad. I was a wee child who knew that Venice in the 70’s was a spectacular show of afros, skimpily cloths, roller skates, and boom boxes.

How can one fan and follow you?

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