A Not So Still Life

I saw the third screening of this extraordinary documentary on Saturday, June 19, 2010, following the Seattle International Film Festival, where it debuted shortly after its final edit and tied for first place for best documentary in the audience awards.

Shot in Seattle, New York City, and Fort Mill, South Carolina, "A Not So Still Life" examines the life and art of Ginny Ruffner, a visionary visual artist who at possibly the peak of her career was severely injured in a car accident in 1991 at the age of 39 while visiting her family in South Carolina from her home in Seattle.

The film features footage of Ms. Ruffner and her work before the accident, interviews with her family, friends and collaborators, and a breathtaking look at her work, which uses glass, wood, and metal in her sculptures as well as oil on canvas.

Following her accident, she was in a coma for two months, and it was assumed that she would probably never walk or possibly talk again. Refusing to accept this, and seemingly through sheer force of will and much hard work she recovered to resume her career as a distinguished Pacific Northwest artist.

I hope this wonderful film gets wide distribution, because it certainly deserves it.