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Ralph Slatton is Professor in charge of Printmaking at ETSU, Department of Art and Design. He began his position in 1990 and presently teaches drawing fundamentals, intro to prints, intaglio, lithography, silkscreen, and relief. He has also held the position of Department Chair from 1999 to 2004. His degrees are BFA (1982) and MA (1986) degrees from Arkansas State University and the MFA (1990) from University of Iowa. A selected list of recent shows include: “Society of American Artists Exhibition,” Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, Ormond Beach, Florida (members exhibition)2008; “Naestved International Mini Print Exhibition,” Ronnebaeksholm Arts and Culture Centre Naestved, Denmark. (group exhibition)2008; “Mind Creatures,” Mabee Art Gallery, Culver Stockton College, Canton, MO. (solo)’2008. Lectures include: “Point of Intaglio,” Baum Gallery, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR; “Out of Whistler’s Window,” Slide lecture and presentation in conjunction with Whistler print exhibit, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN. Selective collections include: Ino-cho Paper Museum, Kochi-shi, Japan, Taipei Fine Art Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., Taiwan Museum of Art, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., The Print Consortium, Kansas City, MO. The Albany Print Club, Albany, NY. Some of his works were published in Best of Printmaking '97, Rockford Publishers. Ralph Slatton has served on the following university committees: Promotion and Tenure Committee (present), Chairs Council 2004, Faculty Council (chair), 1997, “AWriting Across the Curriculum,”(Steering Committee), 1995.
My audience often sees a duality of meanings in my work. Some enjoy humorous animals, while others see the darker inner creatures. This often occurs in the art of ancient cultures, where humorous images carry a much deeper cultural message. For example, the cute dog figures of Mesoamerica could appear decorative and lighthearted. On the darker side, the dogs are supposedly eaten by their masters, during the journey to the underworld. As such, my animals may superficially look humorous, but on deeper examination carry disquises that represent the falliblity of humans.
Strange dog creatures pull a cart with geometric wheels. The harder they pull, the tighter their reins become. They wear antlers made of branches, disguises for some unknow purpose. Medium: Intaglio by Ralph Slatton
This is a guardian spirit, an abstract lioness guarding some unknown portal. The claw rests on an abstracted snake form, representing power and dominance. Medium: Intaglio by Ralph Slatton
A cow diety wears a halo of stars. The cow is blinded by its own glory. What is to become of its adoring followers. Medium: Intaglio reworked with ink wash - by Ralph Slatton
Frogs are balanced on a vine. They enjoy a starlit sky. Medium: intaglio by Ralph Slatton
Sheep wears the disguise of a wolf. This brings into question how unexpectly powerful weaker creature can become. Medium: Intaglio by Ralph Slatton
“Lesser of the Two Evils”
“Asphinxohymenoptra”
“A Question of Honor”
“And the Slithy Toves”
“Fumius Bandersnatch”
