Collage, Leonie Wohl and MaryStella Flynn, 2020. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

Enduring Inspiration: pART ONE

Art, in all its forms, has the power to lift our spirits, fuel our resilience, and bring us together as we stay apart. Enduring Inspiration exhibition celebrates our collective creativity by highlighting artworks created during shelter-in-place.

The exhibition focuses on resilience as a key theme that has manifested throughout the past year. Our participants and teaching artists have worked together using art kits, interactive worksheets, virtual classes and phone-based programs as a starting point towards creating artwork, to share stories and perspectives on life, through art.

Presented in partnership with Creative Spark, a Covia Community Service.

Upcoming Exhibition: November 2021
Call for Submission: Open

We are currently accepting submissions for the next round of Enduring Inspiration, exploring the idea of Image of Self. If you have created an artwork with Ruth’s Table or Creative Spark program, please submit a photo and a brief description below. Submissions in all mediums are welcome.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

COLLAGE

Abstract Collage, MaryStella Flynn, 2020. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

Abstract Collage, Bill Bruckner, 2020. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

Abstract Collage, Margie Ramirez, 2020. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

Untitled design-9.png — IN DEPTH

Throughout the past year, our participants have explored collage, drawing, painting, weaving, poetry, self-reflection and storytelling to create meaningful works that reflect on the themes of resilience, identity, and home.
The exhibition is an extension of our *Enduring Inspiration* initiative that aims to facilitate avenues of creativity, learning, and empowerment to support and uplift our elder communities. Over the year, we delivered 715 art kits around the Bay Area and reached over 1,400 elders through accessible remote programming.
While this exhibition features a small selection of the resulting works, it highlights a diversity of perspectives on inspiration at home. Most importantly, it holds a powerful message that recognizes the transformative power of art: to heal and bring communities together, to challenge assumptions about age and disability, as well as our deep believe that creative engagement is indeed essential.

**View the full exhibition catalogue** **here**.

Needlework & EMBROIDERY

“I am happy to have these pieces in the exhibition in the hopes that other may understand we are only limited in our imagination by ourselves.

And we can create the world we envision through persistence.”

— Heidi Hennessy, March 2020

Embroidered Starfish, Ruth’s Table Participant at Bethany Center community, 2020

Embroidered Abstract Arrangement, Ruth’s Table Participant at Bethany Center community, 2020

Embroidered Ice Cream, Ruth’s Table Participant at Bethany Center community, 2020

Embroidered Car, Ruth’s Table Participant at Bethany Center community, 2020

Embroidered Flower, Ruth’s Table Participant at Bethany Center community, 2020

Embroidered Vase with Flowers, Ruth’s Table Participant at Bethany Center community, 2020

VIEW FROM HERE | Drawing

**What If**

What if the shadow of a towering Redwood
Could bring you delicious food prepared by another,

What if the gentle melody of wind chimes
Could take you to the sunny banks of a friendly river.

What if the arched brick of your mailbox
Could bring you decadent dark chocolate from San Francisco,

What if the rhythm of a fluttering flag
Could take you on exciting trips with the love of your life.

*Collaborative poem by Louise McCracken and her daughter, Jessica*

View from Here, Drawing, Anonymous Ruth’s Table participant. Created in partnership with Creative Spark and Market Day.

View from Here, Leonie Wohl, 2020. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

Resilience

Gnash of teeth
Intake of breath
Clenching...

Then release...
And then
Breath...

Erasing into each breath -
And there is room,
Room for opening ribs, spreading arms,

Room for each new thought,

And finally
Looking around me
Refreshed.

Vicki Bruckner, 2020

View from Here, Drawing, Anonymous Ruth’s Table participant. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

IMAGE OF SELF | Drawing

Self-Portrait, Anonymous Ruth’s Table participant. Created in partnership with Creative Spark.

“I hadn’t hand drawn anything since grade school, when the art teacher said “What’s that supposed to be?” I never doodled.

Creative Spark inspired me to re-examine what it means to be creative and to step out of my comfort zone.”

— Mary Gayle Thomas, 2020

“
With the encouragement I received during the program, I learned that I too am an artist. I learned the joy of celebration of self and so enjoyed the artist in me.
”

— Louise McCracken

PAPER WEAVING

Paper Weaving, Anonymous Ruth’s Table participant. Created in response to Beyond the Warp and Weft exhibition. Teaching artist Miguel Arzabe.

Paper Weaving, Anonymous Ruth’s Table participant. Created in response to Beyond the Warp and Weft exhibition at RT gallery. Teaching artist Miguel Arzabe.

View the full exhibition catalogue here.

SPECIAL THANKS

Enduring Inspiration exhibition is organized by Ruth’s Table with support from the following partners: Community Living Campaign, San Francisco Village, Well Connected, Market Day, and Bethany Center. Thank you to our generous donors for ongoing support.

This exhibition is part of the Enduring Inspiration Initiative.

MAKE A GIFT

Collage Still Life View From Here 2.jpg — MAKE + SHARE

Help us send sunshine into the world!
Make a postcard by following our activity guide below. Share your work with someone or send it to us - we will share your act of kindness with an elder in need of a friendly connection.

Postcard Worksheet →