Finster.

Have you ever stumbled upon a text, an idea, or a person, and instantly connected with it?

Not logically, but actually witnessed within yourself how your system,your body, responded while observing it? I think it's the only way to know the truth of anything. It's that deep down recognition from somewhere within that cannot be identified, or named, but instantly becomes the irrefutable evidence validating its legitimacy.

Anything inspirational, or worthy of attention, is the direct result of the energy it emits. It is actually the recognition, or knowing, that takes place within when viewing it that we either see ourselves in the work or we see who we want to be + become inspired to execute from our own perspective + talents. That's what happened when I stumbled into Howard Finster's world. I recognized that energy and instantly knew the authenticity of it

Energy.

It is my tell.

It is your tell.

Recognizing energy, IS the antidote.

It is the compass of my revolution.

The fella I am dating lives in Atlanta, I live in Knoxville, and sometimes we like to meet halfway to make the drive easier on both of us. Last fall he booked an air bnb, sent me the address and when I showed up I could not believe what I was looking at.

It was an eyeful, and my heart started racing (energy recognition). I sat my stuff down, grabbed my camera, and became immersed. The air bnb was a house with all of Howard Finster's writings, paintings, art books, and then stepping outside, the backyard opened up into Paradise Gardens, which are buildings, pathways, art, and ideas that took shape in the form of rusted out cars, eroding wood, sculptures of hundreds of metal doodads and tools formerly known as junk, and junk may be the only thing some people will see, but you are not my people, you are not Finsters - so don't look at my photos you definitely won't get it. You won't be able to recognize the energy it took for him to create this world. He didn't wait for someone to tell him that his idea was good or crazy or stupid - he didn't care. He needed to get it out. He HAD to share. That is evident in how his words + drawings, are on everything.

I had never even heard of  Howard Finster  until we stayed at the air bnb at Paradise Gardens, but I think he was following that thing on the inside of us all that compels us to create.

To make something that wasn't there before.

To share.

To express what was going on in his heart so brilliantly that others could maybe find their own way in this world + maybe the next world, too.

I love how he was somehow able to amalgamate his religion;what he believed, with his art, allowing them to co-exist. He was a Baptist Minister + an Artist, which are very opposite in their man made, "rules of engagement". As a minister, there are rules + laws that have very specific ways to conduct oneself, and then with art there are seemingly no rules to abide in, except to follow one's heart. However, their rooted practices, intentional living, and the wanting to share + express what they know, what they feel, is similar, and I can see how they align.

Yen + Yang.

I tend to say that I found Paradise Gardens by accident. But was it really an accident or was it fate? Something I was suppose to see so that it could influence my practice, or even give me the permission to do the same?

Because that's what I walked away with...permission.

Sometimes I sit down to create and I begin the overthinking ... is this the right kind of paint, the right thread for this fabric, can I embroidery on duck cloth - let me google - should I mix the fabric, can I print on wood, etc. It's insane what goes on up there. Maybe I go through that line of questioning because I am not a "proper artist". I have had no schooling or background in art. But guess what I found out? Neither did he...

Permission.

Quoting his website, "He was a central figure in the movement called “outsider art”, representing self-taught artists with few or no connections to the bigger artistic world. A fiery backwoods Baptist preacher and visionary, deeply spiritual in his life and his artistic conception."He created more than 46,000 works of art during his lifetime. The Talking Heads commissioned Finster to create the cover art for their album "Little Creatures," which was named "Album Cover of the Year" by Rolling Stone. And he did it all HIS way!

Finster was ROGUE!!! He was one of USSSSS!

I didn't even know outsider art was an actual thing! I would definitely classify myself as such. I have my own instincts to go on when creating, not years of being taught how to be an artist. I just am. And it fits me perfectly. Yes, there's still plenty to learn and I look forward to that, BUT, I am not being influenced by someone else's ideas of how I should do my art.

I am Rogue, doing Finster shit, like building a church in my backyard because I want to:

Going Rogue is an invitation to liberation, of self, of society, or of any oppressive institution that profits off my/your conformity.

We started The Gone Rogue Collective

So that I, which is always an iteration of we, will never not go Rogue again.

We are placing many things under the Gone Rogue Collective umbrella, Playdates, Podcasts, + Publications, to name a few! I am sure many more will be added onto this list as we continue to dream, like Finster did. What an inspiration.