Oct 21st 2011

Borrowing it’s name from the 13th century Persian poet Rumi, “Sit, Be Still, and Listen, Because You’re Drunk and We’re at the Edge of the Roof” is made up of new paintings concerned with beginning and ending. Rattigan states this new body of work is about, “falling into the abyss or rabbit hole and coming out. Starting over.” The paintings on view-predominantly black, made up of deep reds, blues and greens-come from this place of finality. Channeling the likes of Wilde, Twain and Marx (Groucho) his paintings and attitude towards art embody a fatalistic optimism… or an optimistic fatalism. Fortunately, Rattigan works with a sense of humor and an eye toward the future.

Much is made of whether an abstract artist’s work “sincere” or “ironic.” Keltie Ferris notes, “Like a good joke, a great abstract painting has to come from a sincere place and be aware of the absurdity and complexity of that place as well as this world in order to avoid naiveté.” (Bomblog, Dec 18, 2009) Rattigan comes from a place of sincerity and understanding. And rather than using humor and irony to distance himself, he stands, knowingly, laughing into the void.

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