Chris Ruys, 81, has never been one to resist an interesting fork in the road. A lifelong lover of art, words and people’s stories, she follows her curiosity into activism, creative pursuits and unexpected adventures. What others might call taking risks, she sees as making choices—with her mother’s example as an enduring inspiration.
Her activism took root during her early 20s, from protesting the Vietnam War at UC Berkeley to a fledgling activist group at Illinois State University. As editor of the university student newspaper, she discovered the power of print to inform and influence. Later, her work with the Women’s Business Development Center and Chicago-area NAWBO gave her opportunities to tell entrepreneurs’ stories and champion women business owners.
Today, her curiosity continues to serve her community. Through the League of Women Voters, Chris registers voters, shares nonpartisan voting information with the public, educates its members, and, through participation in a League Study, helps research the history of how Chicago has chosen its mayors. Along the way, she has found both worthwhile causes and close friendships.
Ten years of chronic back pain have brought challenges and an ongoing search for relief. Learning, friendships and creativity remain central to her life—from a “Stage and Screen” class at Fourth Presbyterian Church to exploring autodidactism and experimenting with gel printmaking.
Once accustomed to helping clients set goals and make marketing plans, Chris now welcomes personal discovery as it unfolds. Gel printing captures that spirit perfectly: you never quite know what you’ll get until you lift the print—and that’s part of the pleasure.
“You knew what you wanted when you took a look at what you got.” – Chris Ruys
