Containing Old & New Testaments; Sideshow

by Larry Ruhl

“My deep connection to the process of trauma recovery work allows me to tell a story, one that speaks to the beauty which exists in healing. I primarily work in collage and mixed media. I use doll forms, wax, religious iconography, texts and imagery. Some are beautiful, some disturbing, but each speaks to a certain truth. The ability to overcome shame, stigma and guilt. My visual art often directly reflects my writing. In a sense, they nurture one another. Both are my means to explore trauma, sexuality, gender, and religion. Both are raw, immediate and honest. My goal is for my work to speak not just for me, but also for others who have found their way to new paths, reflecting a connection to what was or what could be.”