Steve Ruth

Artist Statement

Stephen Ruth has shifted between process and performing in the visual arts throughout his artistic career. His work references process as a way into narrative. Steve worked with the Zocalo Theater during the 1998 season. While teaching he continued to develop partnerships with the art community of Houston and schools. He worked with the E-Z credit dance company of Notsuoh in 1999 and 2001. He performed with the Art Guys at the opening of the Rice Hotel, worked with Lawndale on various projects, and created with the Public Painting Group throughout his early years in Houston. Steve’s partnership with schools led to the creation of a bronze sculpture as part of the Spark Park program in 2001. In Steve’s works with narrative iconography, the symbols reference points outside the work toward the greater history and story. Action within and around a work’s form and add to the individual stories and further reflect a greater narrative of the work. These relationships create a conceptual and physical stage as sign and the signified play on and off each other toward a greater narrative mystery.