ARTIST STATEMENT (My Rants!)
First I have to explain my website name. Abattoir is a commonly used
word in Europe for a slaughterhouse. So being as how my last name is
French "LaRue" meaning "the street" I put the two together for
"Slaughterhouse Street".
I figured it was kinda cool?
Second: I'm often asked why I choose to work with real animal & human
skulls and bones? No I'm not some demented serial killer! I actually
feel like I'm keeping up an ancient time honored tradition. From
Prehistoric Man to the Mayans and Egyptians people have been working to
make beautiful artistic displays of bones and skulls. From the catacombs
of Paris to the Buddhist Monks of Tibet and on and on.
Artists are now incorporating ashes of loved ones into one of a kind
glass and ceramic pieces. Artists are mixing ash into paints used for
art for the families. Another artist is incorporating real human bones
into canvas paintings. I myself buy my skulls as specimens used for
medical, dental and art study guides. I really believe if the people who
donated themselves after they die would not mind what I'm doing in
trying to make their last remains into hopefully beautiful artwork.
I was lucky enough to be brought up with parents who helped in my
understanding of life, death and anatomy. My dad is a hunter who
sometimes brought odd skulls and skeletons from the woods for me to
marvel over and study and in turn learn. I myself could never harm an
animal. I don't like the sight of real blood and can't really sit
through a slasher horror flick.
I also do "mainstream" art such as portraits including pets, wildlife,
murals, and art restoration. But art for ME normally goes back to
religion (I don't have any), and the macabre fascination with
death...and life. If you're a Religious Zealot do your homework before
you get on my case. From Saint Icons to the Crusades to the many museums
of Freaks and Oddities there are always going to be artists like me.
People are fascinated by death. It's just part of life. Now that you
know a small fraction about me and my art check it out.
Thanks,
Rick LaRue
I take an enormous
pride in creating our products, and hope that you'll find something
in our catalog that you like.
