Ruth Alice Brockmann

Ruth Alice Brockmann January 21, 1955 – July 9, 2013 Ruth Alice Brockmann, age 58, died on July 9, 2013 at home in Vancouver, WA. Ruth was born January 21, 1955, in Vancouver, WA, one of five children of George and Lillian Brockmann. Ruth graduated from Fort Vancouver High School in Vancouver. After studying at Clark Community College and The Evergreen State College, Ruth began a small business selling handmade leather crafts and later studied the art of creating stained glass windows. Her connections in the stained glass field led her to collaborate with others to re-discover the ancient art of kiln-fused glass. She assisted and taught several courses at Pilchuck Glass School and Camp Colton Glass Program. Starting in 1982 she designed and created a series of glass masks depicting various emotions and/or aspects of nature. Later her Tree of Life series depicted aspects of nature and spirituality emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things. Her pieces were displayed and sold in galleries and museums around the country. She also has a piece in the permanent collection at Corning Museum of Glass in New York. In addition to her gallery work, she designed and created many architectural glass commissions in the Pacific Northwest, including pieces for the Oregon Arts Commission, the Washington Arts Commission (which has 18 of her works in their personal collection), and the Driftwood Library in Lincoln City, OR. Two local commissions are at the Portland State Office Building in Portland (two large murals of "A Legend of Multnomah Falls" and "The Bridge of the Gods"), and at Shahala Middle School in Vancouver ("Singing the Souls Home"). Many of the larger installations were collaborations with Hal Bond, her partner of 25 years. Ruth is survived by three siblings, Kathie Brockmann of Vancouver, Bob Brockmann (wife Bunny), of Tumwater, and John Brockmann (wife Cathy), of Olympia. In a remarkable coincidence attributable only to divine intervention, Ruth passed away on the same day (about 12 hours before), as her older brother Bruce Brockmann of Olympia, WA. They shared a very special connection and needed each other for their final journey together. They were surrounded by loving family and friends when they passed. Ruth was always fond of Pablo Picasso's quote: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Ruth will always be remembered for her love of family, her joyful spirit and her passion for art and nature. She will be dearly missed. A memorial service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, WA on August 3, 2013. Please leave condolences at http://evergreenmemorialgardens.com/_mgxroot/page_10783.php