Ruth Horsting

She was born as Ruth Carolyn Johnson on January 18, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois. Horsting attended Northwestern University, where she earned a B.A. degree (1940) and an M.F.A. degree (1959). Additional study was done at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from 1946 to 1950.

In 1959, she divorced and moved to California with her three children. Starting in 1959, Horsting taught at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), initially within the Department of Home Economics and later transferring to the Department of Art. Horsting's work was often large scale bronze or steel sculptures, she used the lost wax method.{{Cite web|date=18 May 1973|title=Barnacles 'Round the Bay: Gualala Arts Program|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/625612385/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Mendocino Coast Beacon|page=11|language=en}}

In 1970, Horsting was given a teaching sabbatical and during this time she stayed at Sea Ranch, co-authored a book, and started a study of yoga. She co-authored with Rosana Pistolese the illustrated book, History of Fashions (1970), published by Wiley.{{Cite web|date=1 December 1970|title=The Telescope|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/541263395/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Independent Coast Observer|page=11|language=en}} The following year in 1971, her eldest son William Francis Horsting died at age 26, which prompted her to retire from teaching and start a journey of reflection. In 1971, Horsting sponsored monk and yoga master Baba Hari Dass to come to the United States, for the purpose of teaching yoga. At the age of 52, she became a full time student of Ashtanga yoga.

Starting in 1978, Horsting and other yoga students and followers of Baba Hari Dass founded the Mount Madonna Center, which serves as a retreat, conference center, and K-12 school. Around 100 people had lived at the center too. Horsting began using the name "Ma Renu" (English: Mother Earth) while at the center. The Sri Ram Foundation was founded by Horsting and was dedicated in supported orphaned children in India. In India the foundation built the Sri Ram Ashram which is a home, school and medical facility for approximately 50 children.

Horsting died on November 26, 2000, in her home in Bonny Doon, California. Her daughter, Archana Horsting is an artist and a co-founder of Kala Art Institute in Berkeley.{{Cite web|last=Zack|first=Jessica|date=2015-10-07|title=Accolade for co-founder of Berkeley's Kala arts center|url=https://www.newstimes.com/entertainment/article/Accolade-for-co-founder-of-Berkeley-s-Kala-arts-6556835.php|access-date=2021-09-28|website=NewsTimes|language=en-US}}

• 2016: Out Our Way, Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Museum of Art, at University of California, Davis, Davis, California{{Cite web|last=Bitker|first=Janelle|date=2016-09-22|title=Davis' new Shrem Museum a work of art itself|url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Davis-new-Shrem-Museum-a-work-of-art-itself-9239752.php|access-date=2021-09-29|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}
• 1964: The Bay Area Artists, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California{{Cite web|date=1 March 1964|title=Crocker Will Open Three Exhibits Today|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/618683731/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Sacramento Bee|page=140|language=en}}
• 1964: Horsting with Bryan Wilson, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California
• 1963: (solo exhibition), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona{{Cite web|date=16 October 1963|title=Ruth Horsting Has Arizona Show|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/618646916/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Sacramento Bee|page=85|language=en}}
• 1962: Northern California Arts (NCA) annual show, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California{{Cite web|last=Oglesby|first=John C.|date=14 October 1962|title=Art Views, The NCA Annual Show|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/618461054/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Sacramento Bee|page=91|language=en}}

• 1959: Pauline Palmer prize, Art Institute of Chicago{{Cite web|last=Weigle|first=Edith|date=12 May 1959|title=Exhibit of Radical Art Opens Institute Gallery|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/372365862/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Chicago Tribune|page=25|language=en}}

• {{Cite book|last1=Pistolese|first1=Rosana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bEY3AQAAIAAJ|title=The History of Fashions|last2=Horsting|first2=Ruth|publisher=Wiley|year=1970|isbn=9780471690405|location=New York City, New York}}

• {{Cite book|last=Dass|first=Baba Hari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5gkSAQAAIAAJ|title=The Path to Enlightenment is Not a Highway|publisher=Sri Rama Publishing|year=1996|isbn=9780918100184|editor-last=Renu|editor-first=Ma}}
• {{Cite book|last=Dass|first=Baba Hari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5gkSAQAAIAAJ|title=Fire Without Fuel: The Aphorisms of Baba Hari Dass|publisher=Sri Rama Publishing|year=1986|isbn=9780918100085|editor-last=Renu|editor-first=Ma}}

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Category:1919 births

Category:2000 deaths

Category:20th-century American women sculptors

Category:20th-century American sculptors

Category:Northwestern University alumni

Category:School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni

Category:University of California, Davis faculty

Category:Artists from Chicago