Things you need to know
You really don’t "need" to know this. I'm sure you will probably have a happy, productive life without this information. Let's just say - it will "help you" if you know these things. "Help you" may be too broad also. You may come closer to figuring out what I'm saying if you know a few things first.
1 - When you see a word that is italicized it takes you to my glossary
Click on the italicized word and it will take you to the glossary. It is real simple.
2 - I can't spell
Somehow I came out on the other end of a 12 year public school education without the ability to spell or write coherently. I am the master of run on fragmented sentences, forgettin to put the "g" at the end of words that end in "ing", pickin the wrong homophone (not to be confused with the homophobe), puttin commas in the wrong places, bein to wordy, redundant, repeatin myself, and ignorin my word processor when it is trying to correct my spelling.
3 - There was a third thing - but I can't remember what it was
Hummmmm…..
4 - I am very anti Big Government
But very "big on personal freedoms.
5 - I remember what the third thing was
I have a biblical world view - hence all the Bible verses I use in my art.
6 - This would have been #5 if I would have remembered what #3 was.
Cryptic messages are hidden throughout my work. Some are so cryptic I can't even figure them out.
7 - I am not politically correct
8 - I am a Bible-believing, KJV only, blood bought, born again, spirit filled, soul winning Christian.
Click on the picture below to take The Good Person Test
(Hint: we all fail)
You really don’t "need" to know this. I'm sure you will probably have a happy, productive life without this information. Let's just say - it will "help you" if you know these things. "Help you" may be too broad also. You may come closer to figuring out what I'm saying if you know a few things first.
1 - When you see a word that is italicized it takes you to my glossary
Click on the italicized word and it will take you to the glossary. It is real simple.
2 - I can't spell
Somehow I came out on the other end of a 12 year public school education without the ability to spell or write coherently. I am the master of run on fragmented sentences, forgettin to put the "g" at the end of words that end in "ing", pickin the wrong homophone (not to be confused with the homophobe), puttin commas in the wrong places, bein to wordy, redundant, repeatin myself, and ignorin my word processor when it is trying to correct my spelling.
3 - There was a third thing - but I can't remember what it was
Hummmmm…..
4 - I am very anti Big Government
But very "big on personal freedoms.
5 - I remember what the third thing was
I have a biblical world view - hence all the Bible verses I use in my art.
6 - This would have been #5 if I would have remembered what #3 was.
Cryptic messages are hidden throughout my work. Some are so cryptic I can't even figure them out.
7 - I am not politically correct
8 - I am a Bible-believing, KJV only, blood bought, born again, spirit filled, soul winning Christian.
Click on the picture below to take The Good Person Test
(Hint: we all fail)
9- Why you should not be offended at me for witnessing to you.
Click on the picture below.
10 - Why I call myself a “Theoretical Man”
This way to boring to explain here... so I put the explanation in the glossary.
CLICK HERE and scroll down to the explanation
My Goofy Bio
Artist
Cale Rogers
I am a ghetto-style abstract painter and sculptor.
With my father being a decorator, I was always intrigued with colors, patterns, and shapes. For thirteen years, I had the privilege of working in his shop. During this time, I learned to stretch my own canvases and create art using recycled materials. My current job is performing FCC compliant work for Suddenlink – which means I spend at least 7 hours a day in the alleyways of Amarillo. This grungy, graffiti-laden alley landscape influences my color pallet and imagery in both my paintings and assemblages. It is a world that is greatly ignored by the public. Alleys are a magical place. Diverse as the people that live in front of them. Some take on the appearance of a lush public park while others appear dark and seedy. I find it an inspirational place for creating recycled art and writing modern poetry.
Art
1- Art Is
The best definition of art is: The use of imagination, creativity, and communication.
This definition opens our view so to include the creative, "artistic" work all around us. We seem to take for granted the spaces and objects in our modern lives - forgetting that they were created by someone using the God given talent of creativity. But in our evolutionary brain washed culture, we naturally think cars, chairs, clothes, phones, homes just seem to appear. We give little thought to the imaginative talent behind the things we have.
YouTube
What is Art?
2- Everybody likes abstract art - whether they know it or not.
To prove my point let's first define abstract art.
"art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures."
A friend of mine and I have had an ongoing debate over what is "good" music. Me being a liberal artist (I'm really not a "liberal" artist), took the position that music is just sound that we assign meaning to. Music, in and of itself, is neutral and is up to the interpretation of the person listening. Beethoven's fifth Symphony is abstract - in that it doesn't represent anything. It is totally up to the person listening to assign their own ideas, mood, and feelings. Anybody that likes music likes something that is completely abstract.
To the people that say they do not like, or understand, abstract art would benefit from looking at it like music. Let the shapes, forms, colors, and textures play with the emotions.
One of my favorite quotes from the Jackson Pollock movie comes from a scene in which a reporter is quoting critics of his work. Pollock responds with: "If people would just look at the paintings, I don't think they would have any trouble enjoying them. It's like looking at a bed of flowers, you don't tear your hair out over what it means."
I enjoy abstract art because each piece is unique. It does not have to look exactly like something else in the world. - therefor it gives the mind a place to imagine. Almost as soon as our brain recognizes an object it is ready to move on to something else. Abstract art holds our attention giving it power to engage the viewer longer then a work that is representational. And it looks really cool!
The free-form abstract is the basic foundation in my work. I mix the abstract with images to give my work another layer of thought.
3- Empty space
When my daughters were kids we would make poster sized pictures. To teach them to open up and create, I told them to fill every square inch with something. That exercise has followed me in my work. I view the back of my painting as an opportunity to create and fill the emptiness.
This space is treated with an emphasis on concept over esthetics. I use this as a commentary on the front of the painting. This commentary is in the form of poetry, phrases, Bible verse, and single words. The images are very flat with little color.
Content can range from my distrust of big government to personal experiences.
Occasionally these abstracts become portraits of someone close to me. Opposite of traditional portraits, the abstract focuses on the personality of the subject. The imagery explains the subject deeper than can be expressed by looking at the physical details of a person. Images, text, and the abstract combine to create a really "funky" street - ghetto look.
4- Inspiration or a hoarding disorder
My family has always had trouble throwing things away - just in case we would need them someday. 😉 With the job I have now I spend at least 7 hours a day in alleys - which happen to be the source of material I can use in sculptures. Bags of broken parts line the shelves of my art room all waiting to be turned into a sculpture of some sort.
This grungy graffiti laden alley landscape also influences my color pallet and imagery in both my paintings and assemblages. It is a world greatly ignored by the public. Alleys are a magical place. Diverse as the people that live in front of them. Some almost take on the appearance of a lush public park while others appear dark and seedy. A veritable museum of modern grunge. Someday the public will learn to enjoy this space. Couples will hold hands as they peruse the alleyways among authors, painters and musicians enjoying its bohemian charm and intellectual vibe.
No kidding - it is an inspirational place for creating great works of junk art and write cryptic poetry. I call it:
Artist
Cale Rogers
I am a ghetto-style abstract painter and sculptor.
With my father being a decorator, I was always intrigued with colors, patterns, and shapes. For thirteen years, I had the privilege of working in his shop. During this time, I learned to stretch my own canvases and create art using recycled materials. My current job is performing FCC compliant work for Suddenlink – which means I spend at least 7 hours a day in the alleyways of Amarillo. This grungy, graffiti-laden alley landscape influences my color pallet and imagery in both my paintings and assemblages. It is a world that is greatly ignored by the public. Alleys are a magical place. Diverse as the people that live in front of them. Some take on the appearance of a lush public park while others appear dark and seedy. I find it an inspirational place for creating recycled art and writing modern poetry.
Art
1- Art Is
The best definition of art is: The use of imagination, creativity, and communication.
This definition opens our view so to include the creative, "artistic" work all around us. We seem to take for granted the spaces and objects in our modern lives - forgetting that they were created by someone using the God given talent of creativity. But in our evolutionary brain washed culture, we naturally think cars, chairs, clothes, phones, homes just seem to appear. We give little thought to the imaginative talent behind the things we have.
YouTube
What is Art?
2- Everybody likes abstract art - whether they know it or not.
To prove my point let's first define abstract art.
"art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures."
A friend of mine and I have had an ongoing debate over what is "good" music. Me being a liberal artist (I'm really not a "liberal" artist), took the position that music is just sound that we assign meaning to. Music, in and of itself, is neutral and is up to the interpretation of the person listening. Beethoven's fifth Symphony is abstract - in that it doesn't represent anything. It is totally up to the person listening to assign their own ideas, mood, and feelings. Anybody that likes music likes something that is completely abstract.
To the people that say they do not like, or understand, abstract art would benefit from looking at it like music. Let the shapes, forms, colors, and textures play with the emotions.
One of my favorite quotes from the Jackson Pollock movie comes from a scene in which a reporter is quoting critics of his work. Pollock responds with: "If people would just look at the paintings, I don't think they would have any trouble enjoying them. It's like looking at a bed of flowers, you don't tear your hair out over what it means."
I enjoy abstract art because each piece is unique. It does not have to look exactly like something else in the world. - therefor it gives the mind a place to imagine. Almost as soon as our brain recognizes an object it is ready to move on to something else. Abstract art holds our attention giving it power to engage the viewer longer then a work that is representational. And it looks really cool!
The free-form abstract is the basic foundation in my work. I mix the abstract with images to give my work another layer of thought.
3- Empty space
When my daughters were kids we would make poster sized pictures. To teach them to open up and create, I told them to fill every square inch with something. That exercise has followed me in my work. I view the back of my painting as an opportunity to create and fill the emptiness.
This space is treated with an emphasis on concept over esthetics. I use this as a commentary on the front of the painting. This commentary is in the form of poetry, phrases, Bible verse, and single words. The images are very flat with little color.
Content can range from my distrust of big government to personal experiences.
Occasionally these abstracts become portraits of someone close to me. Opposite of traditional portraits, the abstract focuses on the personality of the subject. The imagery explains the subject deeper than can be expressed by looking at the physical details of a person. Images, text, and the abstract combine to create a really "funky" street - ghetto look.
4- Inspiration or a hoarding disorder
My family has always had trouble throwing things away - just in case we would need them someday. 😉 With the job I have now I spend at least 7 hours a day in alleys - which happen to be the source of material I can use in sculptures. Bags of broken parts line the shelves of my art room all waiting to be turned into a sculpture of some sort.
This grungy graffiti laden alley landscape also influences my color pallet and imagery in both my paintings and assemblages. It is a world greatly ignored by the public. Alleys are a magical place. Diverse as the people that live in front of them. Some almost take on the appearance of a lush public park while others appear dark and seedy. A veritable museum of modern grunge. Someday the public will learn to enjoy this space. Couples will hold hands as they peruse the alleyways among authors, painters and musicians enjoying its bohemian charm and intellectual vibe.
No kidding - it is an inspirational place for creating great works of junk art and write cryptic poetry. I call it:
The Urban Museum of Modern Art
Modern Artist
To be classified as a "modern" artist the artist must first be living (duh), and producing art in the current age. I know it seems silly to classify a "modern artist" this way, but it helps in understanding the job of the modern artist in our world. First, it is to interpret and comment on the age they live. Secondly, they are to work anticipating the future. By stirring the imagination, artist becomes the catalyst for what is possible in science and society.
The artist in science and technology
I have always loved science fiction. I could hardly wait to live in an ultramodern city with all of its gadgets. I believe artist dream it and the scientist and designers create it. Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea inspired Simon Lake to invent the first submarine. Verne’s book, Clipper of the Clouds inspired Igor Sikorsky, inventor of the modern helicopter.
The artist and social change
Art’s power to inspire and motivate has always been seen as a force to influence society. The Nazis used art to inspire a nation to rise out of poverty to become a vibrant world power after World War One. But art’s power of persuasion can have a dark negative side. The same art that built up Nazi Germany also aided in the deaths of millions of people. On the opposite end, Turner’s “The Slave Ship” spotlighted the atrocities of slavery in Britain which helped to bring about social change in regard to slavery. Because art has such a powerful influence, artists need to examine the negative possibilities of the causes they support, and understand that actions have real consequences. The Nazi artist may have believed that they were aiding in the construction of a great nation and never dreamed that the consequences of their actions would actually bring about destruction. Artist throughout history have been known to rebel against the accepted standards of the day. It is a strong moral standard, and forethought that is needed to safeguard the artist talents from being exploited to promote political unfavorable agendas.
YouTube
Degenerate Art - 1993, The Nazis vs. Expressionism
Government's role in art preservation
This is a touchy subject.
My father-in-law, being a very small government conservative, does find a benefit in the government promoting and sponsoring art in order to preserve culture and history.
The problem I have with government involvement in the arts is they become the judge of what should be worthy of preservation. I personally believe it is the job of private institutions and collectors to preserve our history in art. The free market is more than capable of determining arts true value. The natural diversity in the marketplace acts as a buffer against discrimination. In this system all forms of art can find acceptance in different outlets. In other words, government should not be supporting artist with tax payer money.
Note:
Such views are subject to change at any time based upon some unforeseeable personal profiting from such government programs.