Ruth Gendler

California artist J. Ruth Gendler has been involved with writing, art and interdisciplinary collaboration for most of her life.

Her experience with the rhythms of creativity is evidenced by a diverse background in art, writing, publishing, teaching, and lecturing. Gendler is the author of the bestselling The Book of Qualities and the award winning Notes on the Need for Beauty and the editor of Changing Light: The Eternal Cycle of Night and Day.

Other writings include theatre adaptations of Qualities, editing a health newsletter, writing book reviews, profiles of artists, personal essays, poems and articles about her work with children. Ruth’s poem "Night Becoming Water" was choreographed and presented at the national conference, Final Gifts: Care of the Dying. Gendler was a San Francisco Library Laureate in 2009.