The WAREHOUSE ART MUSEUM (WAM) at 1635 W St. Paul Avenue in Milwaukee shows currently a retrospective of  Ruth Grotenrath, who was born in Milwaukee in 1912 and died in 1988. Because of her involvement with Japanese Zen and her love for Japan, I have been asked to give an INTRODUCTION TO ZEN PRACTICE in the gallery where her exquisite art is being shown until March 31, 2023.

Ruth Grotenrath: All Things Belong to This Earth

During the 1960's Ruth became more intensely interested in Japanese art, philosophy, and religion, which was reflected in her artwork and her way of living. Ruth and her husband Schomer were introduced to Zen Buddhism by Alan Watts, whom they quickly became friends with and began to regularly listen to his lectures. They frequently had gatherings in their home to listen to lectures on different Zen topics and discuss them afterward to try and apply them to their lives and their work. Much of Ruth's work reflects her focus on the Zen philosophy of living in the moment. Ruth and Schomer took multiple trips to Japan and she especially enjoyed their stay at a Zen monastery and participating in the 4 am meditations. She spent the rest of her life appreciating the value of meditation, and that's precisely why we want to inform our audience about such an important part of her life.

The event is free, and everyone is invited.