Artist Ralph Slatton 20 Year Retrospective

Unicoi -- Free-Press-Release.com-- Sep 4, 2010 -- Artist Ralph Slatton releases a retrospective of his artwork in a video montage called, “March of the Mad Hares.” This work represents a highlight of his major pieces during the past 20 years. Since the release of his video on Youtube,it has been distributed on World Press and several Japanese video sites. This work represents a highlight of Slatton's major pieces during the past 20 years. Still images of his work were synchronized to an unusual tempo that is reflective of his equally unusual art. Slatton’s imagery is dark and brooding; he illustrates expressive caricatures of rabbits, dogs, turtles, cows, and others. They appear to toil in some unknown ritual, often finding themselves in compromising snares or psychological traps. See Slatton's Gallery Link

His works are created through the medium of printmaking, also referred to as etching, intaglio, aquatint. To begin the process, copper is first coated with a black substance called asphaltum, which is scribed with an etching needle. This allows the acid to penetrate into the exposed lines. During the first stages of scribing the drawing onto the plate, the artist must visualize not only a drawing in reverse, but also the lights and darks in reverse. Once the image is scribed onto to plate, it is then submerged and timed in Ferric Chloride, a caustic, but safer method than the traditional etchant called, Dutch Mordant. Successive submersions are timed to create a range of lights and darks. The longer the submersion, the deeper the lines, resulting in a darker area. The textured surface is wiped with printer’s ink, and then passed through an intaglio press.

Slatton describes his artwork as, Fantasy Gothic, an often dark view of fable, humor, or lore. The work also shares a duality of opposites. Viewers often respond with uniquely different reactions. Some experience humor, while others see sinister overtones. This often occurs in the art of ancient cultures, where humorous icons carry serious content. Slatton is also influenced by the richly animated movie, “Watership Down,” based on Richard Adams’novel, in which animal hierarchy represent corruption of power in a social order. One of the misunderstandings that Slatton's work sometimes creates is the idea of animal cruelty. His work isn't concerned with this issue, but rather is concerned about a sybolic expression of human foibles, much like those found in fairy tales and moral lessons.

“As I embrace this duality, my animals laugh and cry, wear disguises of the strong and weak, experience entrapment and freedom,” Slatton said.

Professor Slatton teaches drawing and printmaking at East Tennessee State University, since 1990. His work is exhibited nationally and internationally. He holds the MFA from the University of Iowa, and the MA from Arkansas State University.

# # #

Ralph Slatton
http://vitae.ralphslatton.org