Part 2 of my guest interview with Bergerac, France-based boldly abstract artist Ruth Dent who mixes colours with emotions to help you celebrate life on earth. [29:53 minutes]
Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk: true-life, practical, funny, heart-breaking, insightful human experience stories from women who are walking their lives while their lives walk them and the lasting difference these journeys have made. You’ll recognize yourself in stories of adversity, challenge, fear, discovery, adventure, expression, and more. Why? Because, the sorcery of stories is this: they help each of us to be seen and heard, to understand and be understood. I’m your host, Diane Wyzga.
Welcome back to my conversation with boldly abstract artist Ruth Dent who joined me from Bergerac in Southwest France. Ruth mixes colours with emotions to help you celebrate life, nature, humanity, and the spirit in darkness as well as light. When last we spoke I asked Ruth about the themes that inform her imagination, themes like Mother Nature, climate chaos, beauty, and joy. Let’s hear what this engaging woman artist has to say.
Minute
00 to 2:08 Intro
Nature Is Inspiration
2:08 to 4:50 - Begin here!
4:50 to 8:15 - Interpretation
8:18 to 11:45 - Magic & Hope
11:45 to 14:45 - Light & Dark
Wondrous New Body of Work!
14:45 to 21:20 - Videos, Paintings, Poems, and Digital Book
NOTE: an image of each of these paintings will appear on Ruth’s website.
Legacy
21:20 to 29:53 - Observation & Awareness & Magic
Twirling (listen with appreciation)
"Twirling around as sunlight and shadows play a game of hide and seek.
I move; they move. I am still; they still move. Attracting my attention, showing me lines, textures, shapes and colours. Fleeting and passing, these images freeze, to be replayed staccato like as a film in my memory.
Aware of my continually shifting viewpoint , I look forward, step forward and look ahead. Every step marking subtle changes. Familiar and fresh, I ramble along well worn paths where light and dark sparkle and glint amongst the trees.
A mesh of the tree trunks. Those from ages past extend their branches to secure their space, whilst thin, coppiced trunks sway and chatter in the breeze. Clashing and bending, creating an elongated grid which constantly shifts with the breeze.
It is never silent in the woods - there’s always the sound of oneself, and the birds, and perhaps most surprising is when the trees clap, their upper branches swinging into a frenzy as the wind whips through. There is rhythm and energy. And complaints from the birds as they are forced to move!
A groundswell of emotion - deep, primal. Of being, belonging and of forever … changing. A challenge to capture the moment, a glimpse, a feeling, an emotion. To explore what is seen and unseen. To acknowledge the healing found in nature, in colour and in truly seeing and being. Alive."
There is magic in the world and in your work! Thank you for sharing your magic, your work, and walk with us!
Here we are, at the end of the road but not the journey. Thank you for listening to this episode of Stories From Women Who Walk with your host Diane Wyzga and my guest Ruth Dent. I hope you were as enthralled as I was by Ruth and her mesmerizing boldly abstract painting life story. Remember to visit Ruth on her website and sign up for her monthly newsletter to stay in touch with what she’s producing next. All links are in the Episode Notes. Meanwhile, please stop by every Monday through Friday for 60 Seconds, Time Out Tuesday, Story Prompt Friday, and every Thursday for longer guest interviews and Diane-On-Mic episodes. You’ll find us on Simplecast or your favorite podcast platform. Come for the stories - stay for the magic! And speaking of magic, would you leave us a nice rating and review on Apple Podcasts. When you return bring your friends and rellies. You will have wonderful company as we walk our lives together.
Ruth Dent BIO
Mixing colours with emotions to help you celebrate life on earth.
Working from her studio in SW France, Ruth’s bold and expressive abstract paintings celebrate nature, humanity and the spirit.
‘Visible, Invisible, Veiled’ explored natures broken grids. A question: ‘Did cathedrals, temples, stupas and labyrinths originate in the forest?’ culminated in Breathing Space. Lying within the installation, Ruth imagined ’The Day the Sky Shattered and Flew Away’. The ‘Q-Series’ captured the angst of ‘lockdown’ whilst current work is linking the Celtic Tree Alphabet, life and nature - as 25 poems and paintings in ‘Scattered Thoughts’.
Links to Contact Ruth Dent
Website: https://www.ruthdent.com
Here’s the link to the film: https://www.timeandattention.uk/friday-film
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthdentart/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ruthdentart
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-dent-0b35a431/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ruthdentart
Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team
Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga: Quarter Moon Story Arts
Music: Entering Erdenheim from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music
Sound Editing: Dawin Carlisle & First Class Reels
All content and image © 2019 - Present: for credit and attribution Quarter Moon Story Arts