Ruth Horsting

Ruth Horsting, also known as Ma Renu (née Ruth Carolyn Johnson; 1919–2000)^[1] was an American sculptor, professor, author, community organizer, philanthropist, and a student of Ashtanga Yoga. She is known for her bronze and steel sculptures,^[2][3] and taught at the University of California, Davis from 1959 to 1971. Horsting was the first female sculptor hired in the entire University of California system.^[4]

Ruth Horsting
Horsting (left) with Baba Hari Dass in 1999
Born	Ruth Carolyn Johnson (1919-01-18)January 18, 1919 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	November 26, 2000(2000-11-26) (aged 81) Bonny Doon, California, U.S.
Other names	Ruth Johnson Horsting Ma Renu Horsting Ma Renu
Education	School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Children	3

Horsting was the founder and former president of the Sri Ram Foundation, a co-founder of the Hanuman Fellowship, and the co-founder of the Mount Madonna Center located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, above Watsonville.^[5]

Early life and education

She was born as Ruth Carolyn Johnson on January 18, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois. Horsting attended Northwestern University, where she earned a B.A. degree (1940) and an M.F.A. degree (1959).^[5] Additional study was done at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from 1946 to 1950.^[5]

Career

In 1959, she divorced and moved to California with her three children.^[5] Starting in 1959, Horsting taught at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), initially within the Department of Home Economics and later transferring to the Department of Art.^[1] Horsting's work was often large scale bronze or steel sculptures, she used the lost wax method.^[6]

In 1970, Horsting was given a teaching sabbatical and during this time she stayed at Sea Ranch, co-authored a book, and started a study of yoga.^[7] She co-authored with Rosana Pistolese the illustrated book, History of Fashions (1970), published by Wiley.^[7] The following year in 1971, her eldest son William Francis Horsting died at age 26, which prompted her to retire from teaching and start a journey of reflection.^[5] In 1971, Horsting sponsored monk and yoga master Baba Hari Dass to come to the United States, for the purpose of teaching yoga.^[5] At the age of 52, she became a full time student of Ashtanga yoga.^[5]

Starting in 1978, Horsting and other yoga students and followers of Baba Hari Dass founded the Mount Madonna Center, which serves as a retreat, conference center, and K-12 school.^[5] Around 100 people had lived at the center too.^[5] Horsting began using the name "Ma Renu" (English: Mother Earth) while at the center.^[5] The Sri Ram Foundation was founded by Horsting and was dedicated in supported orphaned children in India.^[5] In India the foundation built the Sri Ram Ashram which is a home, school and medical facility for approximately 50 children.^[5]

Horsting died on November 26, 2000, in her home in Bonny Doon, California.^[5] Her daughter, Archana Horsting is an artist and a co-founder of Kala Art Institute in Berkeley.^[8]

Art exhibitions

• 2016: Out Our Way, Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Museum of Art, at University of California, Davis, Davis, California^[9]
• 1964: The Bay Area Artists, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California^[10]
• 1964: Horsting with Bryan Wilson, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California^[3]
• 1963: (solo exhibition), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona^[11]
• 1962: Northern California Arts (NCA) annual show, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California^[12]

Awards

• 1959: Pauline Palmer prize, Art Institute of Chicago^[13]

Publications

As author

• Pistolese, Rosana; Horsting, Ruth (1970). The History of Fashions. New York City, New York: Wiley. ISBN 9780471690405.

As editor

• Dass, Baba Hari (1996). Renu, Ma (ed.). The Path to Enlightenment is Not a Highway. Sri Rama Publishing. ISBN 9780918100184.
• Dass, Baba Hari (1986). Renu, Ma (ed.). Fire Without Fuel: The Aphorisms of Baba Hari Dass. Sri Rama Publishing. ISBN 9780918100085.