Best Visual Artist

34.69% Terry Ratliff* 24.78% David Krouse* 18.08% Julia Meek* 10.79% David Birkey* 1.46% Jerry Seabolt 0.87% Chris Worth, Mee Kyung, Tim Brubeloe 0.53% Derek Quandt, Jason Smith Others with Votes: Abby Griswold, B. Waikel, Big Joe, Bob Panza, Chris DePaolo, Chris Glaser, David Frederick, Diane Groenert, Fred Doloresco, Jody Hemphill-Smith, John Shaffer, Lesa Van Meter, marty Jerome, Mary Hettinger, Matt Shaffer, Michael Poorman, Sarah Small, Shari Sarrazine, Shelly Dixon, Steve Vorderman, Sue Sells, Tim Dieterle 2000 Winner: Terry Ratliff 1999 Winner: Terry Ratliff 1998 Winner: n/a 1997 Winner: n/a * On the ballot

For once, Terry Ratliff was surprised. The 36-year-old Fort Wayne artist won his third straight Whammy Award for Best Visualist Artist, but this time around he didn’t know it was coming. In past years, the Best Visual Artist winner has been asked to paint a portrait of the Performer of the Year to be used as whatzup’s cover the following week, and Ratliff has cheerfully complied each time. This year, however, we decided to keep the winner in suspense like everybody else. Ratliff admitted that he was feeling a little overlooked when the usual phone call didn’t come. “A friend had to convince me to get here early,” he said Thursday night. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have made it in time for the award.” Readers of whatzup seem to have a real affection for the 1989 Franklin College graduate and current West Central resident. Perhaps it’s because Ratliff’s art adorns so many of the Fort Wayne restaurants they frequent. He work has been a mainstay at the Casa D’Angelo restaurant chain for years. Whether its familiarity with his art or his buoyant personality, whatzup readers keep naming Ratliff their favorite artist year after year. Ratliff got the painting bug by watching his mom. His work ethic was obtained from an art professor in Italy: Always work. You work, you learn. A 1996 trip to France and Italy provided inspiration. “It blew me away,” Ratliff said of the experience. “You go over there and see all the history and realize you’re just a speck in this world and you just have to work your butt off.”

Back to main Results page...

Copyright 2002 Ad Media Inc.