Artist Ruth Segaloff remarks, “My art stresses the importance of honoring our memories. By so doing, I believe that art has the power to change the course of history. Into every piece, I incorporate found objects. What each piece has in common is that before it came into my possession, it had another life–it belonged to someone else who had a story. Thus, imbedded within my works is an additional hidden, secret story.”
Throughout the summer, NESCA will proudly help Ruth Segaloff to share her “secret stories” by displaying eleven of her contemporary works. These collages and assemblages tell moral tales influenced by political events and her long career in public service. NESCA is committed to supporting our arts community by periodically exhibiting the work of talented local artists, especially those whose work reflects dedication to children and families.
Having retired after thirty-eight years as a forensic social worker representing abused children in the Juvenile Courts, Ruth Segaloff has established a highly-successful second career as a collage and mixed-media artist.
She points out, “This is not as great a leap as one might imagine, since narrative is central to both and there has been renewed recognition of the healing power of story, both in the telling and the listening.” Or viewing. Her works, influenced not only by her professional experience but also by her service in VISTA, the domestic Peace Corps, tell stories–whimsical, often personal, sometimes political, but always deeply moving.
Ms. Segaloff polished her craft at Lesley University, the DeCordova Museum School, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Mass College of Art, Metalwerx and The New Art Center. Her award-winning pieces have appeared in numerous juried and one-woman shows throughout Massachusetts.
NESCA is pleased have on display a selection of Ruth Segaloff’s work, which has for us a special resonance given her long and compassionate involvement with children in crisis. For additional information, please visit her website: www.ruthsegaloff.com.
Artist’s Statement by Ruth Segaloff
“For as long as I can remember, I have collected found objects: a rusty pocket knife from the fashioned skate key from my childhood; foreign coins and bills from my father’s travels; articles and ads from old magazines. I had no idea why I did this.
In 1963, I found a use for the old magazines after receiving a hand made “birthday book” from a college roommate. Thus began twenty years of making “collage books” for friends and family to celebrate important milestones, predating the scrap-booking movement by at least twenty years.
In 2004, I discovered the Art of Collage and Assemblage, and finally found the perfect place for all the “stuff” I had accumulated over a life time. Many of my pieces are autobiographical though I rarely start out with this intention. “Lost Boys” was one of my first such works.
A colleague gave me a toy train conductor found on the grounds of Westborough State Hospital. “Lost Boys” was the cover story on a magazine in my mail. Immediately, the title, the toy and my two brothers, who struggled with mental illness, became linked in my mind. I added a toy pirate, some scenes of the wilderness suggestive of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, and photographs of my brothers and myself.
“Lest We Forget,” began as a cheese server covered with a clear plastic dome. It reminded me of thousands of baby shoes on display under glass at the Holocaust museums in Jerusalem and in Washington, D.C. From my collection of baby shoes, I found a white pair with blue ribbons, a special sign of affection. Entrapped in rusty nails and wire, they are disturbing reminders of the devastation caused by all wars, no matter how they are justified.
Many of my newer pieces are about war. They reflected my deep disturbance with the war in Iraq and the direction of our country before the presidency of Barack Obama. Now we begin again with the wide-spread hope, finally, for world peace.
I believe the mission of the artists in our society is to speak out against tyranny and social injustice through their art where and when they exist, and I plan to continue to use my art as my protest when necessary.”
About NESCA
NESCA tests, evaluates and treats children – aged pre-school through adolescence – who are confronted by developmental, learning or emotional challenges. NESCA offers a full range of neuropsychological testing, diagnostic and treatment services, specializing in the evaluation and remediation of nonverbal and other learning disabilities, assessment of executive functioning and ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, special education issues, school placements and tutoring, as well as projective testing, counseling, social skills development and yoga-based, mind-body integration therapy. For additional information, please visit NESCA’s website, www.nesca-newton.com, or email Administrative Manager Sandra Oliveira.
