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Download a Copy of Ryan's Master's Thesis
The Effect of Immersion in an Art Intervention on Social Skills in At-Risk Students
Click Here to Check out Ryan's Travel Photos on flickr.com
Ryan S. Ballard is a professional artist, adventurer, pyrotechnician, and educator. Mr. Ballard received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Central Missouri State University in 2001, where he did an intensive study of all areas within the fine arts with a special emphasis on the studio arts (i.e. sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, and painting). His course of study included a study-abroad program in Australia where he researched prehistoric aboriginal rock art and published a novel, “Dreamtime” (available on amazon.com) about his adventures. Mr. Ballard recieved his Master of Arts in Education from the University of Colorado in 2006.
Mr. Ballard is the Executive and Artistic Director of Razzamataz, Inc. which he founded in 2003. He creates and performs original puppetry productions in collaboration with other artists, musicians, and theater troupes. He organizes all of Razzamataz's fundraising activities, collaborative efforts, and community outreach programs.
As well as operating Razzamataz, Ryan exhibits his own art-work in galleries both nationally and world-wide. His work is found in several private collections and museums. Ryan is an instructor for the Talented Visual Arts program in New Orleans.
Mr. Ballard frequently leads community arts workshops and educational outreach programs. He is also the organizer of the Sock Monkey Project, a community arts project that gives volunteers the opportunity to sew sock monkey stuffed animals that are donated to needy children during the Christmas season.
Ryan is also an avid adventure traveler and outdoor enthusiast. He has traveled extensively around the world and can often be found somewhere exotic doing something exciting. Ryan is a seasoned guide and leads trips nearly every summer. He has guided cross-country camping trips, sea-kayaking adventures in Alaska, teen adventure trips in Mexico, Thailand, Belize, Tanzania, and much more. He lives in New Orleans, Louisiana with his wife Meghan.
Watch Ryan bungi jump off of a
suspension bridge over the Bhote Kosi river in Nepal.
Click Here to see Ryan's other Travel Videos.
These 10 birdhouse shrines compose a series titled “Forced Migration”. Each piece tells part of the story of my personal experiences related to Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans. Each piece takes the form of an illuminated bird house, and they are intended to represent the charming Creole cottages that composed the unique neighborhoods of the Big Easy. The design and decoration style of these pieces is derived from Catholic/ Voodoo shrines, Mardi Gras culture, and southern folk art.
Each piece contains clues, thinly veiled references, and pieces of a complicated puzzle. They are intended to ask difficult questions and comment on the political, social, geographic, and environmental conditions that created the nightmare scenario of Hurricane Katrina.
Each piece was also specifically built for a certain person who helped my partner and I in some way, either financially, emotionally, with shelter/ clothing, or in helping me to restore my ability to create art. These bird houses tell my personal story of loss, despair, migration, refuge, and renewal.
The “Forced Migration” series is intended to be shown in galleries all together, hanging from the ceiling by wires. They are floating pieces of uniquely American art and are my personal tribute to a city that I truly love.
Here is a list of the entire “Forced Migration” series:
1. Politics (For Justin and Aubrey Ballard)
2. Agriculture (For Jerry and Janice Ballard)
3. Petroleum (For Brian and Cindy Templeton)
4. Wishful Thinking (For Scott and Nita Ballard)
5. Security (For Rory and Kathy Ballard)
6. Vanity (For Shalee Ballard)
7. Accountability (For Ken and Marleen Kaiser)
8. Doom (For Chuck Murphey)
9. Obsolete (For Susan Edmondson)
10. Final Solution (For Meghan Kaiser)
These sock monkeys were hand-made by over 200 volunteers as part of Sock Monkey Project 2005: New Orleans Orphans. Each one is a unique and beautiful piece of art that will be treasured by the child who received it for years to come.
The time, love, and energy that went into each of these sock monkeys is what makes the Sock Monkey Project special.
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