exhibitions, events & news

14 October - 1 November, 2020: Secret 7"
NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula, London, England • group exhibition & charity auction
Secret 7" combines art and music for a good cause by inviting 700 artists to create unique record covers for one of seven different 7" vinyl records by well known musicians. This year marked the seventh and final edition of this ambitious endeavor, and raised over £134,000 for Help Refugees. The exhibition took place at NOW Gallery, London and concluded with an online auction on 1 November. We can finally reveal Ruth's artwork, which sold above its estimate. Using charcoal and an unbleached coffee filter, she created a cover for the song "Toast" by Jamaican singer Koffee.
NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula, London, England • group exhibition & charity auction
Secret 7" combines art and music for a good cause by inviting 700 artists to create unique record covers for one of seven different 7" vinyl records by well known musicians. This year marked the seventh and final edition of this ambitious endeavor, and raised over £134,000 for Help Refugees. The exhibition took place at NOW Gallery, London and concluded with an online auction on 1 November. We can finally reveal Ruth's artwork, which sold above its estimate. Using charcoal and an unbleached coffee filter, she created a cover for the song "Toast" by Jamaican singer Koffee.

3 September - 12 December, 2020: Searching for Home
The Dalton Gallery, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia • a project of the Margaret Virginia Philip Endowment, group exhibition curated by Dot Moye • catalogue available
We have all searched for home. Some have found it, while for others it is a lifelong quest. In this century the entire interwoven globe has reeled from constant motion to arrested stop – and soon, back again — reacting to displacement – war – pandemic – violence – poverty – danger – climate – upheaval – politics – chaos – nature’s whims – disease. As the pendulum swings, some search for an ideal PLACE; others yearn for psychic or spiritual sanctuary. The search may be a physical progress or a journey of the spirit; the seeking may be voluntary or forced; tragic or hopeful. The goal is a better life and safety for ourselves and those we love – the security of HOME. Artists are sharing the quests – giving faces to the seekers – exploring the paths – joining the search. We know when we get there.
The Dalton Gallery, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia • a project of the Margaret Virginia Philip Endowment, group exhibition curated by Dot Moye • catalogue available
We have all searched for home. Some have found it, while for others it is a lifelong quest. In this century the entire interwoven globe has reeled from constant motion to arrested stop – and soon, back again — reacting to displacement – war – pandemic – violence – poverty – danger – climate – upheaval – politics – chaos – nature’s whims – disease. As the pendulum swings, some search for an ideal PLACE; others yearn for psychic or spiritual sanctuary. The search may be a physical progress or a journey of the spirit; the seeking may be voluntary or forced; tragic or hopeful. The goal is a better life and safety for ourselves and those we love – the security of HOME. Artists are sharing the quests – giving faces to the seekers – exploring the paths – joining the search. We know when we get there.

12 April - 22 June, 2109: Only When I Laugh - One-Woman Show of Drawings & Paintings
Ruth's first major solo exhibition in over a decade opens Friday, 12 April, 5-9 PM at
DIFFERENT TRAINS GALLERY, 432 East Howard Avenue no. 24 Decatur GA 30030.
Second Opening Night for Decatur ArtWalk, Friday, May 24, 5-9
Continues through June 22.
Ruth's first major solo exhibition in over a decade opens Friday, 12 April, 5-9 PM at
DIFFERENT TRAINS GALLERY, 432 East Howard Avenue no. 24 Decatur GA 30030.
Second Opening Night for Decatur ArtWalk, Friday, May 24, 5-9
Continues through June 22.

26 May 2017: DIFFERENT TRAINS Gallery Grand Opening
Ruth is a featured artist in the inaugural exhibition at this new contemporary art gallery, six miles east of downtown Atlanta.
Ruth is a featured artist in the inaugural exhibition at this new contemporary art gallery, six miles east of downtown Atlanta.

16-19 February 2017: Harlem Fine Arts Show
Historic Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue between 120th & 121st , New York City
Historic Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue between 120th & 121st , New York City

Ruth has been nominated for a 2016 USA Fellowship Award! Each year USA invites a rotating group of arts leaders, critics, scholars, producers and artists to nominate up to 2 artists for the USA Fellowship award. These nominators remain anonymous, but come from every US state and territory and work in diverse practices and geographies. The nominators are selected by the USA staff and board and play a vital role in creating a diverse pool of applicants and awardees. Ruth is honored and "slightly overawed" to have been nominated. Past recipients of USA Fellowships include visual artists Glenn Ligon, Kara Walker, Theaster Gates and Catherine Opie. Winners will be announced this fall.

2 May 2016 was the Secret 7" sale day, and it was incredible. Thank you to everyone who made it down and capped another incredible year. By the time the doors opened at 10AM on Monday the queue was down the block and they sold over 450 sleeves in a few wild hours of non-stop secret revealing! You can now discover exactly who did what, including Ruth, in the online gallery.
CD cover art by Ruth Franklin:
![]() Derek Bailey, Trevor Watts, John Stevens - Dynamics of the Impromptu Recorded "live" at the Little Theatre Club, Garrick Yard, St. Martins Lane, London in 1973/74 Re-mastered at ARC Studios, Hastings, U.K. |
![]() Verb Vol. 2, No. 2, 2007 an audio literary magazine by America’s top writers published by University of Georgia Press |
![]() Hear Now, a film by Mark French In September 2012, filmmaker Mark French filmed two concerts, one in Lewes and the other at the Hasting Jazz Club, of the quartet of saxophonist Trevor Watts, pianist Veryan Weston, drummer Mark Sanders, and bassist John Edwards, plus Trevor Watts' Moire Music Drum Orchestra. |
![]() Trevor Watts, Veracity The Free Jazz Collective says "There are not many musicians who can captivate an audience with a solo alto performance – but Trevor Watts can. It’s an excellent piece of art." |