Ruth Marshall: Vanished Into Stitches

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Ruth Marshall : Vanished Into Stitches

Australian-born artist Ruth Marshall creates life-size pelts of various animals using colored wool yarn. Rooted in traditional craft techniques, these meticulously knitted works also stand firmly within the realm of contemporary art. Marshall was granted special access to the mammal collection at the American Museum of Natural History and spent many hours researching and executing large drawings from the aged specimens. These detailed drawings serve as a source for the artist as she replicates the distinct markings and contours of various tiger and ocelot species. Each fiber composition takes over three months to complete. This installation of 14 replicated skins gives the viewer the impression of a black market trophy den, and sheds light on the illegal activities surrounding the extermination of these wild cats. The large-scale nature of these works (some of which span over six by nine feet) and Marshall’s obsessive attention to color and pattern, underscores the beauty of these unique creatures teetering on the edge of extinction.

Marshall received her MFA in sculpture from the Pratt Institute in NYC and BFA from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. She resides in New York City and teaches at the School of Visual Arts. Her works have been exhibited at the Textile Museum, Washington DC; Museum of Art and Design, NYC; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona and the San Jose Museum, CA. Marshall is represented by Dam Stuhltrager Gallery.