Community Outreach
BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL PROJECT – (Behind the Black Lives Matter mural: Artists' speak to equality, family, and hope)
Annie Ruth was one of Seventeen project managers steered a group of 70 artists to design and paint the Black Lives Matter mural in Downtown Cincinnati in front of City Hall.
“Each letter tells a story. The idea to elevate the message came from organizer, Alandes Powell, whose poem served as the mural's foundation and inspiration. Each project manager took a line and worked in their own experience through brush strokes and punchy colors. After days of planning and painting, working through the beating sun and sporadic rain, the endeavor was an act of love and a belief in something better” [Briana Rice, and Sarah Haselhorst, Cincinnati Enquirer]
R: Annie Ruth, 56
Ruth's design is a tribute to the positivity in Black men. She wanted to represent Black men as gentle, caring, intelligent and loving. It’s a way for people to connect – to see themselves, their children or family members in Black men.
"A practice in empathy", she said.
“If you're looking at the TV screen, and you're seeing a black man brutalized, imagine if you're really feeling a sense of empathy,” Ruth said. “It's not, ‘Oh, that's happening to that man.’ It’s, ‘Oh, that's happening to my son. That's happening to my brother.'"
For Ruth, the mural is more than a piece of art, it’s a vehicle for healing. 'It’s more than paint on the ground', she said, it’s an effort at healing that will expand the mind and the heart for those who let it.
PHOTOGRAPHER: ALBERT CESARE / THE ENQUIRER
Annie Ruth was one of Seventeen project managers steered a group of 70 artists to design and paint the Black Lives Matter mural in Downtown Cincinnati in front of City Hall.
“Each letter tells a story. The idea to elevate the message came from organizer, Alandes Powell, whose poem served as the mural's foundation and inspiration. Each project manager took a line and worked in their own experience through brush strokes and punchy colors. After days of planning and painting, working through the beating sun and sporadic rain, the endeavor was an act of love and a belief in something better” [Briana Rice, and Sarah Haselhorst, Cincinnati Enquirer]
R: Annie Ruth, 56
Ruth's design is a tribute to the positivity in Black men. She wanted to represent Black men as gentle, caring, intelligent and loving. It’s a way for people to connect – to see themselves, their children or family members in Black men.
"A practice in empathy", she said.
“If you're looking at the TV screen, and you're seeing a black man brutalized, imagine if you're really feeling a sense of empathy,” Ruth said. “It's not, ‘Oh, that's happening to that man.’ It’s, ‘Oh, that's happening to my son. That's happening to my brother.'"
For Ruth, the mural is more than a piece of art, it’s a vehicle for healing. 'It’s more than paint on the ground', she said, it’s an effort at healing that will expand the mind and the heart for those who let it.
PHOTOGRAPHER: ALBERT CESARE / THE ENQUIRER
WELCOME BANNER FOR COGIC AIM CONVENTION – DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) unveiled the artwork that was selected for welcome materials for The Church of God in Christ Auxiliaries in Ministries Convention (COGIC)- June 2016.
“Prayer and Praise” by Annie Ruth was (selected for COGIC). “This was the first time CVB partnered with the region’s artists for our welcome program, showcasing our local culture to so many thousands of visitors" through street banners, sidewalk decals, hotel lobby signs, welcome posters and buttons.
“Prayer and Praise” by Annie Ruth was (selected for COGIC). “This was the first time CVB partnered with the region’s artists for our welcome program, showcasing our local culture to so many thousands of visitors" through street banners, sidewalk decals, hotel lobby signs, welcome posters and buttons.
LION KING PROJECT
“Unmasking the Roar”
|
|
A series of art workshops for 85 adults and children. These workshops consisted of 3 workshops combining mask-making with African folktale storytelling, a final community share exhibition, attendance at one performance of “Lion King”, and discussion with Lion King staff member(s). The project created an opportunity for adults and students to reflect, develop meaning of, and strengthen their self-interpretation, self-identity, and social roles. Key collaborators included the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Arts in Healing Initiative / ‘Journey’ program, FamiliesFORWARD, and community artists Annie Ruth and Amy Tuttle. |
International Artists' Residencies & Visits
|
|
|
|
2019: Cultural Exchange Host Artist for Mandela Washington Fellow, Kunle Adewale- Nigeria, Arts in Community and Medicine Tour | Collaborating with >20 organizations in Cincinnati.
2019: Arts in Medicine & VICMOB Schools, (Lagos, Nigeria), Cultural Exchange artist visits sharing poetry and visual art.
2018: Helping Hands for the Nations, Inc. (Women’s Empowerment- Kenya), International Facilitator – presenting training sessions, spoken word, song and lectures for women and children Nairobi, Mbiti, and outlining villages in Kenya.
2014: Helping Hands for the Nations, Inc. (Kenya Outreach), International Artist Facilitator – presenting spoken word performances and lectures for children in schools, orphanages, and churches in Nairobi, Kenya and outlining villages
2010 – 2011: Cincinnati Museum Center, In Their Own Voices (The Kenya Project), International Artist Facilitator – creating a 140 –piece mosaic fusing the art of children in the United States and Kenya.[Children wrote poetry and artist’s statements]
2019: Arts in Medicine & VICMOB Schools, (Lagos, Nigeria), Cultural Exchange artist visits sharing poetry and visual art.
2018: Helping Hands for the Nations, Inc. (Women’s Empowerment- Kenya), International Facilitator – presenting training sessions, spoken word, song and lectures for women and children Nairobi, Mbiti, and outlining villages in Kenya.
2014: Helping Hands for the Nations, Inc. (Kenya Outreach), International Artist Facilitator – presenting spoken word performances and lectures for children in schools, orphanages, and churches in Nairobi, Kenya and outlining villages
2010 – 2011: Cincinnati Museum Center, In Their Own Voices (The Kenya Project), International Artist Facilitator – creating a 140 –piece mosaic fusing the art of children in the United States and Kenya.[Children wrote poetry and artist’s statements]
