Be Ritt
About Be.Ritt:
Be.Ritt. is the creation of metal sculptor Benjamin Dale Rittenhouse. A student of the expressionist camp, he’s motivated most to communicate with the world around him and manipulates metals into a universal expression of these inner thoughts. Utilizing a traditional structural medium – steel – as one would use clay or paint, he emphasizes the element used to bind and fuse – the weld – and makes it the focal point of his sculptures. Ultimately he attempts to bring human vitality to an otherwise inanimate and cold metal form through exploring the physicality of abstract thoughts by utilizing organic shapes and forms.
By Day, Ben works as a special effects make-up and prosthetics artist for some of Hollywood’s largest and most technically demanding films. He recently acted as on-set supervisor for the Playtone/Spielberg production The Pacific, the follow-up to the popular Band of Brothers series. While his repertoire includes projects ranging from Kill Bill, The Hills Have Eyes and The Chronicles of Narnia, his true passion lies is sculpting. While Special Effects is not the realization of his ultimate dream, it is a means to this end, and plays a role in shaping him as an artist. In few jobs could anyone claim the luxury of working daily with well-known and Oscar winning craftspeople. His process requires him to think in terms of shape and proportion, aspects integral to his personal sculpture work. While his vocation is rewarding, he aims to see his craft (special effects) be gradually overcome by his art (sculpture). Ben heralds from small town America - Farmland, Indiana. Artistic even as a young child, he turned to Hollywood horror and sci-fi films for inspiration and began his first foray into threedimensional art building character models for other local fans. Further inspired by family trips to major museums around the US, Ben decided to take the leap to Hollywood via the Art Institute of Pittsburg. He’s been working in Hollywood for the past 10years, putting emphasis on his fine art for the past five years where he’s been a steady participant in the downtown arts scene.
Visit Be.Ritt’s website at:
Full feature film credits available at www.imdb.com
