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Art is Emotion
Brad Morrow, the creator of Rogue Art says,
"Rogue Art reaffirms my conviction that art is emotion. Art in all its forms is emotion. From a comedy monologue to the ballet, from slam poetry to oil on canvas, art makes us feel. And the more it makes us feel the more fully alive we become. It is my hope that as you peer deeply into the works and muse intently over the questions and calls to action associated with each piece, you will feel the art at work within you. As you look into these mirrors of the soul, they will bring light and enlightenment. And may you have a genuine sense of being more fully alive as a result of your engagement with these works. Enjoy the journey into Rogue Art!" |
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How to view Rogue Art
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Too much of a good thing
Rogue Art has many compelling ideas to speak to us. Or perhaps more appropriately said, there are many things to discover about ourselves as we look deeply into the works. As such, if we fully observed every work in a Rogue Art exhibit in one day, it would be too much to take in, too many questions, too many calls to actions in a single setting. The best way to view a Rogue Art exhibit is to look through all the works briefly and see which one beckons you. To which of the pieces are you drawn. Then pick one or at most two and muse over those deeply. Ask yourself each question. Ponder the queries from several different angles. Consider intently how the art is connected to your real life experience. Give yourself the freedom to take all the time you need. Take ten minutes, twenty minutes, an hour to soak in everything your thoughts reveal about a single work. There is no rush. When the time is right, come back another day and gaze upon another work deeply. People of faith, ask God for insight If you are a person of faith, ask God for enlightenment as you observe the works. Pray that God will guide your imagination and thoughts as you peer into these “mirrors of the soul.” |
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Comparison to Other Art Forms
Though Brad Morrow formally created Rogue Art in July of 2013, in a real sense many aspects of Rogue Art have existed since the beginning of time. Anytime an artist through the centuries has created something new and outside the realms of what was considered normal, they were creating Rogue Art. From the first artist to draw on a cave wall to the first impressionist to post-modern works and beyond, artists have been thinking outside the borders of what is allowed for centuries. Some artists, like Kazimir Malevich,the creator of the art form Suprematism, were even ordered to cease and desist by their government.
Though Rogue Art tries to break with traditional forms of art, this should not be viewed as a lack of respect or admiration for the historic forms. Rogue Art is rather a tribute to the masters who through the ages brought new revelation to humanity through their innovation and creativity. Their historic witness calls us to do the same. So it is with awe and respect that Rogue Art pays tribute to those great thinkers who brought us light and enlightenment. We do this by following their lead of continuously stepping outside the lines of normal by forcibly bursting through the walls of the status quo. And if we strive hard enough, our hope is to bring even a fraction of the enlightenment brought by those great visionaries of the ages. |
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How Rogue Art Came to Be
Rogue Art came into existence formally as an art form in July of 2013 with the creation of the first work of Rogue Art, “Birth of a Dream.” However, the actual idea of Rogue Art came to me in the following way. Through the years many ideas would come to mind not just about art, but inventions, books, illusions and many other categories. These ideas started coming so rapidly that one Christmas I asked my wife for the gift of journals so I could begin writing them down before I forgot them. That year she gave me a large stack of journals. I placed them strategically in every location I might receive an idea: my car, my bedroom, my den, my office, my backpack. I began writing down every idea that came to mind.
In my early fifties the company I worked for offered an early retirement package. As a result, I was able to take a short sabbatical. During my time off I asked the question, “What will I do with the next 50 years of my life?” I began to collate all the ideas from my journals into categories: art ideas, book ideas, inventions, etc. And I wondered which path I should pursue. Then something wonderful happened!
The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
I was introduced to a series of prayers and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius known as the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Through these experiences I was encouraged to ask God to guide my imagination as I considered the scriptures and really all aspects of life during prayer. The most beautiful and amazing thing happened. God answered my prayer and began to make my imagination flourish. Ideas began to pour forth like never before. Almost every day new ideas for art work would come to mind. And unlike the ideas I had in my past, these ideas connected me to the scriptures and led to practical application. There were times when I felt that same burning of the prophet Jeremiah as he spoke of God’s word in him, “then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9b World English Bible)
It was during this time the idea came to me to add to the art questions and calls to action. I believe this concept of Rogue Art came as inspiration from God in answer to my request to guide my imagination. Guide He did! After a time the church I was attending decided to use Rogue Art as a guide and spiritual exercise through Lent. So the idea came to write week long devotionals for each work of art. These devotionals gave people a framework to contemplate the intersection of life, faith and art in the real world. The devotionals gave them a daily contemplation and encouraged them to create their own works of art. This gave the participants a backdrop for weekly small group meetings where people could share their insights freely.
So in a very real sense Rogue Art was birthed, I believe, in the heart and mind of God. Because He longs for us to use our heart and minds together, He has provided the outlet of Rogue Art as another way to bring us insight and to help us be more fully alive.
In my early fifties the company I worked for offered an early retirement package. As a result, I was able to take a short sabbatical. During my time off I asked the question, “What will I do with the next 50 years of my life?” I began to collate all the ideas from my journals into categories: art ideas, book ideas, inventions, etc. And I wondered which path I should pursue. Then something wonderful happened!
The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
I was introduced to a series of prayers and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius known as the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Through these experiences I was encouraged to ask God to guide my imagination as I considered the scriptures and really all aspects of life during prayer. The most beautiful and amazing thing happened. God answered my prayer and began to make my imagination flourish. Ideas began to pour forth like never before. Almost every day new ideas for art work would come to mind. And unlike the ideas I had in my past, these ideas connected me to the scriptures and led to practical application. There were times when I felt that same burning of the prophet Jeremiah as he spoke of God’s word in him, “then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9b World English Bible)
It was during this time the idea came to me to add to the art questions and calls to action. I believe this concept of Rogue Art came as inspiration from God in answer to my request to guide my imagination. Guide He did! After a time the church I was attending decided to use Rogue Art as a guide and spiritual exercise through Lent. So the idea came to write week long devotionals for each work of art. These devotionals gave people a framework to contemplate the intersection of life, faith and art in the real world. The devotionals gave them a daily contemplation and encouraged them to create their own works of art. This gave the participants a backdrop for weekly small group meetings where people could share their insights freely.
So in a very real sense Rogue Art was birthed, I believe, in the heart and mind of God. Because He longs for us to use our heart and minds together, He has provided the outlet of Rogue Art as another way to bring us insight and to help us be more fully alive.