Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Ruston.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My story starts when I was five years old. I saw the opening ceremony for the Olympics and felt with every fiber of myself that I was meant to be there. I trained for 20 years to make the team. Despite never making that dream a reality, I still accumulated 2 NCAA All-American honors and was also a member of the 2008 World Indoor Championship team. After devoting so much of myself to this goal, my identity was entwined with athletics. I was sent on an unexpected mini life crisis of ‘’who am I?’’. During that time, a dear friend took her life. Everything was silent. I lost touch with everything I thought the world and my life to be. I was devastated. I found myself renting a small room. It was the scene out of a sad movie, my mattress on the floor and a couple of books stacked on the side. I remember my phone just sitting on the ground charging. I knew I couldn’t live like this. My instinct was to make something for my phone to sit on. I made my first table. In hindsight, I can see that through that creative process I was not only lifting my phone off the ground but on a much bigger scale, I was beginning to lift myself from a dark place. Art truly has helped me transform my wounds into wisdom and helped heal me.
Please tell us about your art.
I create functional art mainly through tables and metal sculpted planters. I want people to be able to fill their homes with meaningful pieces that inspire them when they see or use them. I have no training in woodwork or metal work, so the way I create my pieces is unorthodox and straight from the heart. I rely heavily on my intuition with bringing a piece to completion and in knowing what choices to make in the process. My favorite work is when I use discarded pieces of wood or pieces that appear to be majorly flawed and worthless. There are two main themes that play throughout my work. First, I use my own interpretation of the technique Kintsugi which translates to “golden joinery” for pieces with big cracks in them. The imperfections and blemishes in my work are often times the more aesthetically satisfying part of my pieces. This is an incredible symbolism for us as human beings. The parts of us that have been broken and cracked are our most beautiful parts despite the impulse to cover them and hide them. They are what helps us share the story of where we have been and show our true shape. Secondly, I frequently use the technique Shou Sugi Ban to bring new life to pieces. This is a process where I use fire to paint the wood and bring out a darker, richness in the wood. It carries with it the message that a destructive force can come through and create a new beginning for the piece of wood which is a vital message to remember in the harder times of our life.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
I think an artists biggest challenge is what we all experience which is self-criticism and self-sabotage. It is so easy to tell ourselves a story that what we do isn’t important or that someone else is doing a better job so why even try. Everyone has something important to contribute, and it is our responsibility to fortify ourselves to share that gift. The more we share that gift in the world the more we can connect to those who understand it and appreciate it.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I participate in the annual EAST Side Studio Tour and WEST Side Studio Tour in Austin, Texas. The easiest way to see my work now is online via my website(www.RustonCreations.com) or social media( IG: @Abby_Ruston FB: @RustonCreations). I do a lot of work one on one with people to create a custom piece that is unique for their home and story. I also make pieces that I feel need to be in the world some of which are available currently.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RustonCreations.com
- Email: aaruston@gmail.com
- Instagram: abby_Ruston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RustonCreations/
Image Credit:
Abby Ruston
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