Artist Statement:

“Revolve is inspired by the idiomatic expression, ‘As you make your bed, so you must you lie on it.’ It is intended as an invitation to a conversation, pointed at the topic of youth violence in New Orleans and the cycle in which it systematically revolves. A cycle that should alarm us, in the same way in which it would, if we walked into a room where a child was playing with a loaded gun.”

www.rontherin.com

Rontherin Ratliff, Revolve,2012, mattress springs, steel wire, plywood, paint and wooden toys, 8 x 14 x38' (Photo by Sara Essex Bradley)

Artist Bio

Rontherin Ratliff, a native of New Orleans, was introduced to art at an early age as he witness his mother designing everything from clothing to wooden toys. Working along side his father he assisted in bringing her ideas to life. He credits his father for his skilled craftsmanship. Now he is a multi-faceted artist, working in such diverse media as sculpture, mural, and graphic design.

As a member of YA/YA (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), he was contracted to restore chairs for a private collection in Sanselpocro, Italy (1997); his interior design project was exhibited as part of Artpentry at the Louisiana Children’s Museum in 2002; and he designed murals for the City of Hammond (1999), Café du Monde Sculpture (commissioned by the Vieux Carré in 1999), Harrah’s Casino and MTV’s The Real World (2000). In 2007, Rontherin designed and painted YA/YA’s Coming Home mural series, which was painted on the wall of the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans.

The Corner is a gallery dedicated to sculpture.

Thanks to the following for supporting the CAC’s new 2012 First Floor Initiative: Best Buy, Corporate Realty, Edward Wisner Donation Fund/City of New Orleans, Ella West Freeman Foundation, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Nola Paint and Supplies—Farrell~Calhoun Paint, Selley Foundation, Aimée & Mike Siegel, SPUN Cafe at CAC