Published March 10, 2014
The work of University of Louisiana at Monroe Professor of art, Gary Ratcliff, was
recently featured in an exhibition hosted by Northwestern State University鈥檚 (NSU)
Department of Fine and Graphic Art. The show was a retrospective, which highlighted
ceramic pieces from different stages throughout Ratcliff鈥檚 career.
Incorporated in the display were 37 ceramic works, as well as one of Ratcliff鈥檚 undergraduate
paintings.
When asked about his work, Ratcliff replied that it all 鈥淕ot started when I just happened
to pass by the ceramics room as an undergraduate in college and saw the instructor
giving a demonstration."
"It was the first time I had ever seen someone using the potter鈥檚 wheel. I was probably
a junior at the time and painting was then my concentration, but I ended up borrowing
some clay from a friend and tried out the wheel myself.鈥�
From there, Ratcliff鈥檚 talent blossomed and he went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science
in ceramics from Greenville College in Illinois and then a Master of Fine Arts in
ceramics from East Texas State University.
Ratcliff works primarily in stoneware with a focus on functional pieces, or functional
pieces with sculptural
Ratcliff's exhibition at NSU
elements. He also likes to do work in Raku pottery.
鈥淢y inspiration can be anything I see or think about in the process of working,鈥� he
said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 necessarily look at a lot of other ceramists鈥� work. I tend to be more
introspective and introverted in terms of ideas and styles.鈥�
Ratcliff has taught at 四色AV for over 37 years.
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