Terry Ratliff
You gotta ask yourself: Is there an inherent problem with the whatzup polling procedures regarding the Whammy awards for best visual artist? With all the local talent - even beyond the year's nominees like Tom Keesee, Julia Meek and Mee Kyung Shim - how come painter Terry Ratliff continues to reel in however many consecutive Whammys?
Is it because voters eat lots of pasta and drink lots of Italian wine in the ambiance of the Casaburo family's restaurants? Does he scour the obits and capture the votes of the recently deceased? Maybe he gets volume discounts at Kinko's and duplicates ballots. Or, you need to ask, does owning a RatArt T-shirt inherently turn voters into indebted zombies?
No ... no, the answer is that he's a well recognized artist (a painter, graphic artist and theatre set designer) with an abundance of talent. Ironically, any knocks on him may spring from his success. As his detractors point out, his talents arent always spread evenly throughout his prolific output (nobody hits a homer every at bat). His acceptance appears to stem from his being a marquee name plus being an appealing, popular guy. And popular taste, like cream, rises to the surface.
whatzup pollsters may differ, but the idea of rating the merit of visual artists by sheer quantitative measures is wrought with difficulties and ripe for debate. Eclectic taste and qualitative judgment are tossed aside in the rush to determine a "winner." Being ranked fifth out of a list of 20 influential artists on each of 50 ballots will vault that choice to the top of any survey, i.e. that
particular choice is no one's favorite but accumulates enough chads (hanging or otherwise) to be declared the "best."
Understand here that I am in no way demeaning Ratliff's stature in local circles nor belittling his individual worth, which has been previously noted as being immense. Likewise to the whatzup pollsters, I don't want to diminish your valuable efforts to showcase the work of performers and artists. I guess I just feel for the other established and emerging artists who aptly deserve recognition.
The 37-year-old Ratliff, himself, is quick to concur.
"I'm never quite sure how to accept the awards," he explained a few days after picking up his fourth Whammy last Thursday. "In some ways it is with some reluctance, and I feel a little weird. In many ways I'm in awe of the other artists ... Michael Poorman, Karen Moriarty and David Krouse.
"At the same time I'm thrilled to receive the recognition. The publicity is certainly a positive part of it. It's not easy to come by in a smaller market, and [the publicity] helps generate contacts and possibilities for work. I guess I feel, if anything, that I represent local artists, and that's humbling."
For those unfamiliar with Ratliffs work, it's become a mainstay at Casa Mare and Casa Grille and adds to the flavor of what was once Harvey's and is now Ernie's in Riviera Plaza. His work is regularly shown at the Castle Gallery and at Artlink, as well as at his own studio/gallery at 1020 West Washington. He also has a burgeoning commercial career, taking on assignments from ad agencies. Others may have seen his stage work for the Arena Theater where he last did the set for Mousetrap.
As one of the winners of Artlink's juried regional show last fall, he'll be featured there in September and is currently preparing an exhibition for installation at Henry's next month.
"I'm excited about Henry's. I'm planning some raw pieces where it's as much about the pencil lines as it is about the paint ... not as refined as some of my other work," he said.
Therein lays Ratliffs genius. He's willing, even enthusiastic about trying out new ways to express his ideas and feelings. Being in some ways "all over the place" defies strict classification in art appreciation terms. Not a copyist, he does examine and study the works of other artists. He's particularly fond of the German Expressionists like Edvard Munch, Max Beckman, Georges Rouault and Emil Nold among others.
"My subject matter and form come to me as I attempt to express, symbolize or draw what I'm feeling. My work isn't so much about what I intend but more like what I feel. And that changes. If I had to do just still lives or portraits or whatever, I simply couldn't do it for long. I crave change."
Because of his recognition, Ratliff, like many of his contemporaries, is constantly being hit upon to contribute pieces to a wide variety of charitable, fundraising events.
"It's a way to contribute something back to the community," he explained, "I'm happy to be able to do so for the right causes - The March of Dimes, the AIDS Coalition and the Fort Wayne Ballet."
Down the road, Ratliff is pondering with some friends a project that involves art education and the potential for a sort of art collective for younger artists in inner city.
I've never lost my interest in education and sharing. Maybe some day I'll go back into academics and get a Masters," he added.
Given his current schedule that may be a bit away. In the interim we'll just have to be satisfied with his 'undoctored' view of the world.
by David Tanner
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Wednesday, June 28
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Chris Worth — Variety at Nick's Martini & Wine Bar, Fort Wayne, 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., no cover, 482-6425
Fatima Washington — R&B/soul at Summer Nights, Embassy Theatre rooftop, Fort Wayne, 5 p.m., $5, 424-5665
Hubie Ashcraft — Acoustic at Mad Anthony Lakeview Ale House, Angola, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., no cover, 833-2537
Joe Justice — Variety at Schnelker Park, New Haven, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., no cover, (260) 749-2212
Mark Stachovsky w/Daniel Quinn — Baritone/guitar at First Wayne Street U.M., Fort Wayne, 12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m., free, 422-4681
Carolyn Martin — Variety at Don Hall's Guesthouse, Fort Wayne, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., no cover, 489-2524
Jared Schneider w/DJ Aleon — Karaoke/DJ at Columbia Street West, Fort Wayne, 9 p.m., no cover, 422-5055
Open Mic — Hosted by Mike Mowry at Pedal City, Fort Wayne, 9 p.m.-12 a.m., no cover, 415-6167
Paul New Stewart — Variety at The Venice Restaurant, Fort Wayne, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., $1, 482-1618
Classic City Karaoke w/Bryan Lee — Karaoke at Pine Valley Bar & Grill, Fort Wayne, 8:30 p.m., no cover, 490-9464
Fort Wayne Karaoke w/Brian — Variety at AJ's Bar and Grill, Fort Wayne, 8 p.m., no cover, 434-1980
Fort Wayne Karaoke w/TJ — Variety at Chevvy's, Fort Wayne, 9 p.m., ,
Jared Schneider w/DJ Aleon — Karaoke/DJ at Columbia Street West, Fort Wayne, 9 p.m., no cover, 422-5055
Karaoke w/Bucca — Variety at Wrigley Field Bar & Grill, Fort Wayne, 10 p.m., no cover, 485-1038
Karaoke with Rooster — Variety at By: Belle Haven, South Whitley, 8 p.m., no cover, 866-716-9243
Shooting Star Prod. w/Stu — Variety at Office Tavern, Fort Wayne, 8 p.m., no cover, 478-5827
Shut Up and Sing — Karaoke at Duesy's Sports Bar, Fort Wayne, 7 p.m.-11 p.m., no cover, 483-5681
Three Rivers Karaoke — at Dupont Bar & Grill, Fort Wayne, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., no cover, 483-1311
45th International Glass Invitational Award Winners — Contemporary glass sculptures presented by Habatat Galleries of Detroit, Tuesday-Sunday thru Sept. 10, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, $6-$8 (members, free), 422-6467
The Art of Summer — Works by local, regional and national artists, Tuesday-Saturday and by appointment thru July 31, Castle Gallery Fine Art, Fort Wayne, 426-6568
Beautiful and Obsolete: Obituaries for the Machine Age — Works from Fort Wayne painter and printmaker Kay Gregg that explore once ubiquitous mechanical equipment made obsolete by the digital revolution, daily thru Sept. 1, Franco D’Agostino Art Gallery, Academic Center, Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne, 399-2826
Flourish — Katherine Rorschacher works that juxtapose digital icons over floral imagery, Fridays and Saturday-Thursday by appointment thru Aug. 18, The Gallery at Pranayoga, Fort Wayne, 423-9642
Fort Wayne Artist Guild’s May Exhibitions — Works by Alice Siefert at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Doni Adam at Allen County Retinal Surgeons, Karen Bixler at Citizens Square (2nd floor), Darlene Selzer Miller at Citizens Square (3rd floor), Linda Hall and Susan Wenger at The Einhaus Group for Women’s Health, Jessie Strock at Ophthalmology Consultants (Southwest), Joel Alwine and John Kelty at Ophthalmology Consultants (North), Judi Renkenberger at Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne, Emily Jane Butler at ResCare Inc. Adult Day Service, Karen Harvey at Town House Retirement, Barb Yoder at Visiting Nurse Hospice and Toni McAlhany and Randy Roberts at Will Jewelers, thru June 30, fortwayneartistguild.org.
Glass: A Medium in Art and Automobiles — Dale Chihuly blown glass and fiberglass auto, daily thru Sept. 8, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn, $7.50-$12.50, 925-1444
Juxtapoz Magazine: 25 Years Under the Influence — A chronicle of the iconic magazine’s evolution into one of the most influential magazines of art of the counterculture, Tuesday-Sunday thru July 9, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, $6-$8 (members, free), 422-6467
Light and Line: The Matrix Series of Brent Kee Young — Complex glass works works by Cleveland-based glass artist, Tuesday-Sunday thru Sept. 10 , Fort Wayne Museum of Art, $6-$8 (members, free), 422-6467
On the Pursuit of Perfection: The Legacy Architecture of Louis I. Kahn in Our City — An exhibition of modern architecture and Louis Kahn, the architect who envisioned a chimerical arts campus where the Arts United Center and Fort Wayne Museum of Art presently sit, Tuesday-Sunday thru Oct. 15, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, $6-$8 (members, free), 422-6467
Printmaking and More — Works by Alan Larkin, Barbara Nohinek, Betty Fishman and Stephanie Carpenter, Tuesday-Saturday thru July 8, Crestwoods Frame Shop & Gallery, Roanoke, 672-2080
Robert Williams: SLANG Aesthetics! — An exhibition of new work by the artist considered the godfather of the lowbrow, pop surrealist and colloquial realism art movements, Tuesday-Sunday thru July 23, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, $6-$8 (members, free), 422-6467
Sara Auman Smith — Mixed media and fiber arts, Monday-Saturday thru June 30, Orchard Gallery of Fine Art, Fort Wayne, 436-0927
Surfaces — Works involving experimental materials and techniques by seven regional, national and international contemporary artists, Monday-Saturday thru July 22, Jennifer Ford Art, Fort Wayne, 740-1309
Water — Works from themed art competition, daily thru July 24 (reception 7 p.m. Monday, July 24), Clark Gallery, Honeywell Center, Wabash, 563-1102
The World of Studio Glass — Works from some of the world’s most innovative glass sculptors, with new work by Robert Comploj, Eunush Choi and Harue Shimomoto, Tuesday-Sunday thru Sept. 10, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, $6-$8 (members, free), 422-6467
