Glenside resident Linda Ruth Paskell is a force of nature. To sit down with her to discuss almost anything becomes an exercise in affirmation.
I like to think I have a finely tuned sense of disingenuousness, but Linda leaves little doubt about the positive effect she has on all who come into contact with her. When we meet at Elcy’s for coffee, the steady parade of friends and former students that stop to chat and exchange hugs back up my assessment.
Linda Ruth employs her positivity and talents in the art class she teaches at Arcadia University, and every semester concludes with a student show she calls “The Art of the Syllabus.”
“The beauty of the chorus is that they are not art majors,” she explains. “These are students who come from different disciplines. The class always caps at 12. Generally there are one or two art majors. The rest of the students are chemistry, biology, business, health administration, education, and so forth.”
The media the students employ runs the gamut, but is always tactile. From the traditional to found objects, Linda Ruth imposes few limits on what might find its way into these through-provoking works of juxtaposition, harmony, or dissonance.
“I challenge my students to look at every day objects in a different way,” she explained. “For instance, I might give them a door hinge, and tell them ‘Make art out of this,’ and then send them away.”
At first it scares them to death, she notes, but then “their brains start to kick in and they come back with something amazing!”
At her own website at Peek-a-View.net, Linda Ruth spotlights an impressive body of photographic work she calls “The Color of Poverty.” Belying that downbeat appellation, the portfolio of her travels to Third World countries depicting people making lemonade out of lemons. Her subjects live purposeful and uplifting lives in the face of what any American might consider overwhelming adversity. The work inspires gratitude and hope.
She readily cites positive outcomes of her own set backs and hurdles. For instance, a marriage ending in divorce produces two wonderful sons and recently a granddaughter. Her business-oriented father’s initial disapproval of her decision to follow her artistic inclinations becomes pride in his daughter’s achievements. And so on…
As a teacher, she conveys her own sense of gratitude to her students. She assigns projects to force them out of their comfort zones, and takes them to visits at inner city high schools, homeless shelters, and domestic violence shelters as well to work with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and troubled youth.
This week’s show will be her 16th at Arcadia. I’ve attended several exhibits already, each one impressive. Linda Ruth’s approach clearly indicates the compelling benefits of altering one’s perspective to creatively solve almost any kind of problem.
“I’ve learned that if you love something and have a talent for it, then just go for it. If you’re good at what you do, it’ll all work out in the end.”
“The Art of the Syllabus: Global Art, Local Heart” displays the work of the students of ID325, the Artist in the Community. It takes place on April 11 from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM at the Thrall Gallery in the Spruance Fine Arts Building on the campus of Arcadia University. Snacks and refreshments will be served.