Ralph
Slatton is professor of art at East Tennessee State University. He is in
charge of the printmaking program where he teaches drawing, intaglio, screen
process, and lithography. He received the BFA and MA from Arkansas State
University, and the MFA from the Univeristy of Iowa. Slatton's major
media is intaglio printmaking, where he explores a narrative approach to
contemporary fable. His animal imagery provides a facade, disguising our
many human foibles. His recent work is heavily influenced by
“Watership Down,” an animated movie based on Richard Adams’novel, in
which animal hierarchy represent corruption of power in a social order.
Impressions 12.12.2010
Browsing this site will uncover some very pertinent clues about
my conceptual and technical processes as an artist. Much can be learned
about artworks by placing them in context of the artist's writings. As
such, I felt the need to post a few thoughts about my biases, insecurities,
and processes. I may occasionally feature a favorite article or research
paper, to fully color those things I feel are important to this
end.
A personal website is kind of a vain endeavor, presuming that
anything I have to say about myself would interest anyone. I'm not
sure this is the chief objective. Somehow, seeing one's postings is an
end unto itself. There are some interesting parallels between websites
popularity and art. Would an artist ever produce works even if there were no
audience? I know artists who produce absolutely stunning work, yet are
content to show in only small venues. There are even some who keep
their best works private, hidden in sketchbooks or taped to studio
walls. I'm sure we can make additional parallels with writers,
musicians, or any artistic professions. Vanity and obscurity often go
hand in hand. They compliment each other, balancing the ego as both a
creature of the spotlight and the darkened corner.
In my youth, I wondered why artists felt the need to pin a lifetime
of their artwork all over the studio. Now that I'm older, I
realize that this allows the artist to see the work in perspective.
Knowing where one has been is a powerful tool or context for future
work. The very act of pinning it to the wall is a ritualistic initiation.
That work has a "rite of passage." Whether
right or wrong, good or bad, we've pinned it down, giving us permission to try
something else. Maybe, my need to place personal thoughts for
public consumption is a similar exercise. Impressions that I enshrine in
the mighty Google machine give me perspective, much like a personal
journal. At any rate, those of you who stumble across my site, may
better appreciate my feeble attempts at being an artist.
20th Year Retrospective:
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