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Artiste Extraordinaire-Ruth Kamps Lois Harvey
Artiste Extraordinaire - Ruth Kamps
By Lois Harvey
Gallup has always been recognized as a town of talented artists and gifted crafters. One artist that has become a favorite of mine and of many who know her, is Ruth Kamps.
If you were to be invited into Ruth Kamps’s home you may think you are entering a museum. The adobe built house reflects Ruth and her husband’s appreciation of the southwest, which is built from local adobe, has a door created from tamarisk wood and a ceiling designed with local cedar planks. The living room and dining room are filled with a fascinating array of Southwestern artifacts including Zuni, Acoma and Navajo pottery, native beadwork, rock etchings and more. But the arresting works are the oil paintings and stained glass works of which Ruth is truly a master.
Ruth Poppen Kamps was born in 1930, in Muskegon, Michigan, where she attended elementary and high school. After graduating from high school, Ruth migrated east to Grand Rapids to attend Calvin (College) University for a year. College was of no great interest to Ruth but while at Calvin she met her life’s partner, Roland Kamps, who hailed from Rehoboth, New Mexico. The two fell in love and made plans. Ruth’s mother wasn’t too happy about this relationship and firmly declared that no daughter of hers was moving to that desolate country without visiting it first.
Ruth traveled to New Mexico with Roland on the infamous Route 66. Ruth says, “I fell in love with the country at first sight!”
Roland and Ruth married in August of 1950, and began raising their family. Rol began his career as a teacher at Rehoboth Mission. Eventually the family of six followed Roland to various teaching jobs including Zuni, NM, and California, finally settling down at Rehoboth Christian school as high school girls' dorm parents.
Roland’s dream was to build a home of their own in Gallup. When Rehoboth closed their dorms, a plot of land was purchased by Roland, and the two began building their home. Ruth fondly recalls building their new home on Vanden Bosch and was dismayed when her husband set his eye on a corner lot a block away. “I still see myself laying the final section of flooring of our CAP home,” Ruth says, “I was happy there.” However, Rol had other plans, purchased the corner lot and began the building of his dream home, made entirely of adobe bricks with coved Vega ceilings.
Early on in her first years at Rehoboth, Ruth delved into oil painting where she indeed had a gift. I asked Ruth what motivated her to start painting. She wasn’t sure but she knew that as a child she already loved art. Ruth’s favorite subjects became southwestern scenes, buildings, and people, particularly of people in the surrounding reservations. Ruth took photos of indigenous life and with her attention to detail and color transformed the photos into true-life artwork.
Throughout her career Ruth taught painting to interested folks while also working with local artists. When asked whether she sold much of her work her reply was that she wasn’t that interested in selling her paintings. If anyone would ask, she would gladly sell and much of the proceeds would go to her favorite charities. She recalls the thrill she felt donating to worthwhile causes. Ruth does find it affirming when people ask to buy her paintings. However, many of her favorite pieces will be passed on to and shared with her children, grandchildren and generations to follow.
While Ruth’s defining work lies in her paintings, she also has become a master at stained glass art. After moving into their new home, Ruth set up her art studio, later dedicating it to her intricate and beautiful stained glass work, including Tiffany lamps, Nativity sets, many with a southwestern theme, and tree ornaments. Ruth spent several months repairing and reworking the many stained glass windows in the First Christian Reformed church in Tohatchi, NM. But perhaps her crowning achievement is the beautiful, 7-foot stained glass cross in the newly built Zuni Christian Reformed church.
Ruth has now retired from designing glass works and larger oil paintings. Her studio has been transformed into a living space for her daughter, Linda, who has become her constant companion and caretaker. She still has an interest in small paintings but now finds herself just “not getting it right.”
Ruth never aspired to be an artist to make a living or a name for herself. When asked about her work, she answers: “I just enjoy it and enjoy sharing it with others.”
SAVE THE DATE!
November 5
TheAmerica Recycles Day Recycling Arts & Crafts Fair / Recycling Jamboree
After two years of COVID restrictions The McKinley Citizens’ Recycling Council will hold this celebration of America Recycles Day from 9 am - 3 pm at the Gallup Community Service Center, 410 Bataan Veterans Street - Gallup.
MCRC is seeking vendors of items made from recycled / reused materials. For more information send a message to betsywindisch@yahoo. com or call Millie (505) 722-5142 or Linda (505) 905-5966. Al-Anon The Monday Noon Serenity Group holds open AlAnon meetings every Monday (except on U.S. holidays) from 12 noon to 1 PM in the Sanctuary of Bethany Church located at 1110 South Strong in Gallup. AlAnon is a 12 Step fellowship of family and friends of alcoholics.
YES
I DO!
I want a copy of God's message of strenth, hope and love. (Psalms and Proverbs). I understand there is no charge. IT IS FREE!
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE: ZIP:
PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY Allow A Few Weeks For Delivery Mail to: PO BOX 2025 Gallup, NM 87305
October 1
The Gallup Relay for Life
Board will hold a Fundraiser Food Sale at Gallup Lumber & Supply, 1724 S. 2nd Street. 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Hot Dogs, Chile Dogs, Frito Pie, Pickles, and a variety of Baked Goods will be sold.
Please join us in continuing our fight against cancer and enjoy some tasty food!
For more information contact Pam at 505-870-6205.
October 1
Across Nations 85th Anniversary Event Oct 1st, 2022 - 2 Hilltop Rd, Gallup, NM 87301 Target Shooting fundraiser 8am-12pm. Live music and broadcasting 1pm-4pm For more info, call Across Nations Radio 505-371-5587
October 7
Season Finale of Friday Night Rides – Cars & Coffee Live Music 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
October 8
Show Opening: Immersed in Enchantment by Dana Aldis
ART123 Gallery 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (during ArtsCrawl) A love letter to northwest New Mexico’s abundance of natural beauty spelled out in a series of 100 small works and large-scale animal and tree portraits.
THE FALL FESTIVAL
The Ancient Way Café, OPO Gallery, the Feed and Seed Store, El Morro Area Arts Council, and area Food Circles present THE FALL FESTIVAL - ART! CRAFTS! LIVE MUSIC! FOOD! DISPLAYS! Join us in a joyful celebration of Rain, Harvest and the Arts. 11:30-4:30 pm in “El Morroville” Highway 53 one mile east of El Morro National Monument.
October 19
Artist Talk: Dana Aldis
6:00 pm In-person at ART123 Gallery Live-streaming on the @ gallupARTS Facebook page
October 26
Wine & Painting
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm ART123 Gallery Have a creative night out! Purchase tickets at www. gallupARTS.org/wine-andpainting
October 29
Open Mic Night 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm ART123 Gallery
Gallup’s Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial: A Photo Retrospective The Rex Museum is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Saturday 12:00 PM to 4:00
PM. The City of Gallup invites you to celebrate the centennial of Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial through images and objects, an exhibition curated by the Octavia Fellin Public Library at the Rex Museum located on the corner of Historic Highway 66 and 3rd Street. Email tmoe@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.
We READ, We TALK Hybrid Book Club
Join us in person at the Main
Library or on Zoom for
discussions of A Place of Thin Veil by Bob Rosebrough. “The veil between the material and spiritual worlds is thinner and more permeable in Gallup, New Mexico. It is a place that is dis-proportionally and
El Morro Area Arts Council presents CHIP THOMAS aka “jetsonorama”, a photographer, public artist, activist and physician who has been working on the Navajo Nation since 1987. There, he coordinates the Painted Desert Project – a community building project which manifests as a constellation of murals across the Navajo Nation painted by artists from all over the rez + the world. Thomas was a 2018 recipient of a Kindle Project gift and in 2020 was one of a handful of artists chosen by the UN to recognize the 75th anniversary of the UN’s founding. He will be speaking at The Old School Gallery (one mile east of El Morro National Monument on NM H’way 53) October 22 from 2-4 pm with a reception for him there at 4 pm.
simultaneously wonderful and terrible. A reservation bordertown with a remarkably diverse citizenry, Gallup started out as a railroading and coal mining community with an alcoholsoaked, violent history. It is a place of constant struggle where the forces of good and evil are joined in combat and where each resident faces their own inner struggles. This book isn’t just for Gallupians or New Mexicans; it is both a memoir and history about real people facing Goliath struggles.” Discussions are
Tuesday, October 18th at 6:00 PM and Saturday, October 29th at 2:00 PM. The author will be in attendance on Saturday
ONLY. Refreshments will be served! Email bmartin@ gallupnm.gov or call 505-8631291 for more information.
Family Storytime with Local Author Sheila Lofgreen
Join OFPL in-person at the
Children & Youth Library on
October 8th at 2:00 PM for an exciting family storytime with a special guest! Local counselor, author, and illustrator Sheila Lofgreen will read stories that explore music and the role it plays in our lives. Stories, songs, rhymes, and finger plays will focus on music and instruments and include a chance to make music together. Email pneilson@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 8631291 for more information.
Sugar Skull Decorating Party
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with OFPL in-person at the Main Library or the Children & Youth Library on November 1st and 2nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for a Sugar Skull decorating party! While supplies last. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.
New Mexico P.E.O. Scholarships for Women
P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.
All New Mexico scholarships require: • Applicants be female • Applicants be sponsored by a PEO Chapter • Scholarships are merit-based • Applicants must have full-time status at an accredited institution
There are five New Mexico Scholarships:
Delilah Williams Scholarship I: This is for high school seniors to apply for their freshman year at Cottey College or a New Mexico institution. It is for a minimum amount of $2600.00 and is renewable.
Delilah Williams Scholarship II: This is a scholarship for a student’s 2nd year at Cottey College or a New Mexico institution. It is for a minimum amount of $2600.00 and is not renewable.
Francine Neff Scholarship I, II, III, IV: This is for high school seniors to apply for their freshman year at Cottey College in Missouri. It is for a minimum amount of $2600.00 and is renewable for all four years.
Jean Boswell Foundation Scholarship: This is for juniors and seniors at a four-year college. It is for a minimum amount of $2600.00 and is not renewable.
New Mexico State P.E.O. Scholarship: This is for juniors and seniors at a four-year college. It is for a minimum amount of $2600.00 and is not renewable.
Irene Gurley: This is for UNM-Gallup students. Two (2) $400 Scholarships to be used for UNM authorized expenses (e.g., books, tuition, supplies).
Contact PEO Chapter T: Jennifer Lee (505)979-2529 or JoAnn Zecca (505)863-6397.
