A Dog, a Pig, and a Possum Walk into an Art Gallery
November 1-30, 2024
A Dog, a Pig, and a Possum Walk into an Art Gallery
Opening reception: Friday, November 1, 5:00-9:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; closed Wednesday-Friday November 27-29
This new exhibition features artwork by Beka Addison-Browder, John Hilton, Michelle O’Patick-Ollis and Ralph Slatton. Their diverse array of artistic expressions includes intaglio, relief and screen printing, and drawing, which the four artists use to convey a shared fascination of animal imagery. Their creations are like mirrors, reflecting their lives, dilemmas and journeys. They invite viewers to engage with their own identities, to reflect on the human condition, and to discover the beauty that exists within the interplay of humor, darkness, and imagination.
Ralph Slatton uses the process of intaglio to delve into the realms of humorous animals and sinister creatures, and John Hilton uses drawing media and woodcut processes to create fictitious human/animal hybrids. Both artists use veiled disguises to express profound messages about human identity and the human condition. Beka Addison-Browder and Michelle O’Patick-Ollis create imagery with a feminine touch, depicting flora and fauna. Addison-Browder draws inspiration from the flora and fauna of Appalachia and its heritage handicrafts, using screen and block printing processes on fabric in conjunction with various sewing skills. O-Patick-Ollis is inspired by online personality tests that pair individuals with an animal profile that resonates with their unique traits, and she uses printmaking and drawing processes to create imagery where animals symbolize the essence of their human counterparts.
About the artists:
Ralph Slatton
My influences are considered fantasy Gothic, an often dark view of fable, humor, and lore. What better vehicle to convey these ideas than those found in the world of animals. Their sense of balance and gravity are beautifully choreographed. Their expressions are inscrutably humorous, but always raw, with unbridled presence. As such, my animals elusively disguise some moral truth, human condition, personal dilemma, or conundrum. Those who view my work often respond with opposite reactions. Some experience humorous animals, while others see sinister ones. This often occurs in the art of ancient cultures, where humorous icons carry serious content. For example, the cute plump dogs found in Pre-Columbian art would at first glance appear whimsical. On the darker side, the dogs are supposedly eaten by their masters, during the journey to the underworld. It is my intention to take the viewer down a visual and psychological rabbit hole. A place where animals wear disguises of both the strong and weak, experiencing the freedom of entrapment, and generally revel in the dark side of human foibles.
Ralph Slatton was born in 1952 in an old farmhouse, surrounded by the cotton fields of Trumann, Arkansas. He was a descendant of both Far Eastern and Southern culture, as his mother was a native of Yokohama, Japan, and his father a resident of Northeast Arkansas. Slatton earned the BFA and MA degrees from Arkansas State University and the MFA degree from the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History. Slatton was hired at East Tennessee State University in 1990 to head the drawing program and also serve as advisor to the pre-medical illustration program. He served in many capacities, including: Department Chair, achieving the rank of Full Professor in 2001. He was one of the recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Research Award for 2010. He retired in 2018 with the status of Faculty Emeritus. His work is in the collections of the In-cho Paper Museum, Japan; Taipei Fine Art Museum; and the Taiwan Museum of Art.
Michelle O’Patick-Ollis
In my work, I create detailed depictions of animals that serve as representations of the friends and family with whom my life is intertwined. Inspired by an online personality test that pairs individuals with an animal profile that resonates with their unique traits, I create imagery where animals symbolize the essence of their human counterparts.
Michelle O’Patick-Ollis was trained as a printmaker. She began her studies at East Tennessee State University (BFA 1995) and continued her fine art education at Arizona State University (MFA 1999). After college, she worked under Harvey Littleton as a printer, learning Vitreography, the process of printing on a glass matrix. Michelle later worked as a muralist for Hands On Regional Museum. She went on to receive a MAT degree in K-8 Education/K-12 Art Education (2005) and taught Art for 17 years before leaving in 2022 to pursue artmaking full-time. Michelle was the recipient of the 2021 Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist’s Fellowship in 2D Visual Art. Her artwork can be found in collections including: The New Britain Museum of American Art; Scottsdale Contemporary Museum of Art; University of Washington Book Arts and Rare Book Collection; and the Tucson Museum of Art, among others.
John Hilton
How one identifies is important to their growth and understanding. Identity helps to define our sense of place and purpose. I am searching for ways to express what I believe to be characteristics of identity, be it my own, or the identity of others. Choosing the human/animal hybrid as a vehicle for this approach, I create fictitious creatures I possession of characteristics of others. Humor is also important and used to confront more serious concerns within the work.
John Hilton began his artistic career pursuing a BFA in studio art, from East Tennessee State University, as well as completing a MFA from Clemson University. In addition to these institutions, he studied art at The Charles E. Daniel Center in Genoa, Italy and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Since 2003, John has been instructing foundation art courses in drawing and printmaking for East Tennessee State University and Jackson State Community College. It is his hope to impart onto the next generation of artists an honest and strong work ethic. His artwork is in the collections of the B. Carroll Reece Museum, Amity Arts Foundation, Ned McWherter Cultural Arts Center and the Kansas City Art Institute, among others.
Beka Addison-Browder
I am inspired by the flora and fauna of Appalachia and its heritage handicrafts. I am both a screen printer and a block printer and use these methods to translate my ink drawings to fabric. I also design and sew garments, quilt, crochet, knit, embroider, darn, and dye fabrics. I enjoy creating mixed media pieces using these various different skills, as well as using secondhand materials as much as possible in my work.
Beka Addison-Browder is an Appalachian fiber artist, printmaker, illustrator, and seamstress. She was born and raised in East Tennessee and currently resides in Johnson City with her husband and their many cats. She majored in art at ETSU, and then sought to increase her skill and continue to learn while working in production screen printing for Bonnie Kaye Studio and production sewing at Echoview Fiber Mill and Sew Co. She recently began making art full time. Beka has exhibited regionally in solo and group exhibits. She actively participates in community art events as a co-organizer for the Nocturnal Art Market, community art class instructor for William King Museum of Art, and contributing artist for Road Roller Printmaking at the Artstruck festival in Johson City, TN.
Instagram @varicosevanity
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