Ruthie O'Neal Yard Decoration Artist in Waterloo, Iowa Ruthie O’Neal was born in Taylor, Mississippi and moved to Waterloo when she was a teenager. As a child in Mississippi she started expressing herself through objects that she collected and decorated. She had a special gift for decorating and her favorite color is purple. Her grandmother recognized her skills as an artist and encouraged her to develop her passion for expressing herself through art. She bought her first home in Waterloo and has devoted more than twenty years to turning recycled objects into sophisticated art forms, and turned her yard to exhibit her collections. Although she has no formal training her art has been recognized by professionals. The meaning behind her collections is important to her childhood memories of the south, and identifies her as a southern black woman living in Iowa. Home | Overview | Interview | Videos | Community | Leadership | Media | Education | Links | Organizations | History | About Us | Site Map | Blog | Forum | Research Created and Updated by Chen and Jackson July 20, 2011