“DEER DANCER”

Many Native Americans fostered relationships with the ‘Four Leggeds’ (i.e. rabbit, deer, buffalo). Animals were ‘spoken to’ before a hunt…asking them to sacrifice their lives willingly, not just to be killed. Prior to a deer hunt, it was common for many male Native Americans to gather in ceremony and talk to the deer. In ritual dress, they donned antlers and mimicked the movements of their brother, the deer. Thereby, creating a unity between the animal, themselves and their God.

Speaking heart to heart with an animal one is about to kill, goes beyond the minds sense of reality. 

Using the example of the “Deer Dancer”, I ponder, ”…..are my actions and thoughts for the highest good of all? Are my relationships towards people, animals and the earth inspired by a desire for unity? “

What is the secret to living an abundant life? My answer is, “Gratitude”. Gratitude for every experience, relationship and life lesson I’ve ever had.  If I choose to not learn the lesson, by default, I prolong the experience of pain. Is it possible that when a lesson is learned…there is joy, and a blessing is laid at the feet of all parties involved?         

SCOTT ROGERS

Scott Rogers’ love affair with bronze began when he bought a bronze sculpture from his uncle, Grant Speed. Six months later in October of 1990, he came home from work one day, looked at that bronze and said, “I can do that”. He sought counsel at the hands of master teachers, Fritz White CA, Stanley Bleifeld, Herb Mignery CA, Mehl Lawson CA and Grant Speed CA.

“My desire is to use art as a vehicle to inspire mankind to see the beauty of life. Artists are prone to leave emotional fingerprints all over their work; hence, what you’ll be seeing, in a way, are self-portraits. I love how shape, line and form communicate. Every line has a spirit and speaks volumes. Put a lump of clay in my hands and a short while later you’ll know exactly how I feel and physically see my soul. I am finding that the key to life is to develop eyes to see what is really ‘there’.”

Scott Rogers loves what he does and portraying the Old West. “I remember, fondly, the hours spent as a youth reading of renegades, rebels, rogues, outlaws, wild men and horses, ferocity, passion, power, cunning, independence, honor, loneliness, fear, rage, courage and freedom. These words worked their way into my soul and now find expression through my fingers in clay. The “West” was about men and women who had courage, who were part of something bigger than themselves. I find great pleasure in doing these people justice by creating a fair portrayal of their characters.”

“I sculpt feelings and not reality. In fact, to me, the words sculpture and feelings are synonymous. I love it when someone says, after viewing one of my pieces, ‘I can feel the bullet hitting him, I feel like I’m on the back of the bucking horse’ or ‘I can hear the roar of the stampede.’ I know art uplifts the spirit, it makes one want to be better, to feel good about themselves and their fellow man, to reach out for that which is good in life. It’s my wish that you experience some of what I feel through my art.”