[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 47 (Friday, March 17, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RUTH WATERS, IN RECOGNITION OF 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE ARTS IN SAN 
                              MATEO COUNTY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 17, 2017

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ruth Waters, a remarkable 
artist and arts activist who has been sculpting for six decades and 
supporting the arts on the San Francisco Peninsula for four decades. 
This week, Ruth will be honored by her peers and the institution that 
she leads will celebrate its fourth year at its present location in 
Burlingame, offering art and artist studies to the community.
  I first met Ruth in the 1980s when I served on the San Mateo County 
Board of Supervisors and when Ruth was the founder and director of the 
Twin Pines Art Center in Belmont. Her passion for the arts and 
promoting public art in particular, led me to create a County Arts Task 
Force. Ruth's passion continues to this very day. She is a prolific 
artist and has exhibited solo in at least 25 exhibits and at dozens of 
regional and national juried shows.
  In addition to being a talented sculptor and arts advocate, Ruth is 
an amazing administrator and organizer. She founded the Peninsula 
Museum of Art in 2004 and serves as its Executive Director. The museum 
moved to its current location in Burlingame in 2013. The museum's 
mission is to enhance the region and enrich lives through art and 
education. It offers five exhibition galleries, an art reference 
library, gift shop, and working studios for 30 professional-level 
artists. The inclusion of the artist studios in the space is a 
deliberate effort to bridge the gap between the creative community, 
professional artists and the community at large.
  The current museum grew from the Twin Pines Art Center, which 
operated from 1977 to 1985 in Belmont. During this time, Ruth was also 
the co-founder and president of the Peninsula Sculptors' Guild, and she 
co-founded and served on the board of the Peninsula Arts Council from 
1992 to 2008.
  The accomplishments of Ruth Waters have been recognized on many 
occasions, including but not limited to the President's Award from the 
National Conference of the Women's Caucus for Art, and through her 
listings in the Dictionary of International Biography, Who's Who in 
Art, Architecture and Design, and the International Who's Who of 
Professional & Business Women.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a rare person who personifies a profession that 
itself lends beauty to this world. Ruth personifies the world of art 
and sculpting, and we are fortunate to have the beauty that she 
continues to create around us. We should all be grateful for her 
leadership in promoting the arts and art appreciation. Beauty can 
neither be denied nor muzzled, and in Ruth Water's work we see beauty 
abound while a passionate voice for the arts proclaims its presence in 
service to us all.

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