"Rosemary Ollison" The ARTIST beyond Religion STATEMENT and BIO

BELOW: THE ARTIST IN RELIGION

BELOW: THE ARTIST BEYOND RELIGION

2008

E-mail---Ollison@gobeyondreligion.com

I have no professional training in art. My ability to create is a gift from God. My journey to enlightenment had its beginning in 1984. After ten years of keeping a daily journal of my “Constant Communicational Arrangement” with God, he directed me to draw and paint illustrations that would give me a better understanding of the words he recorded in my mind and heart. My works mirror the years of anguish I experienced because of enduring years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as my continuing journey to enlightenment.

I am sixty-five years old, a retired educator of special children for eighteen years. I was divorced in 1967 and raised my son and daughter with the help of God and family. They are wonderful children and gave me four beautiful grandsons, one granddaughter, one great grand son and an awesome daughter-in-law and son-in-law. I live alone but I am not alone, my life is filled with family and friends, especially my five brothers who are always there for me and three special friends who always encourages me and do not allow me to say the word “can’t".

I spend on an average of five hours each day journaling, from which I have written three books, over forty articles and about 150 poems. I am an artist; I have drawn and painted about 2000 images all with messages. I am a designer of clothes, jewelry and crazy quilts. I love taking pictures. My latest passion at this stage of my development is creating computer art. I have over 8000 images of computer art. And I have 34 images on the Internet at MOCA (Museum of Computer Art).

I devoted twenty-three years of my life to religion. Religion made me a better person outwardly but not inside. I was nothing more than a well- dressed mannequin, void of emotions. After twenty-three years of religion I was filled with so much guilt, fear, anger and confusion until I could not face the truth about my condition and situation. I saw death as my only hope. At the brink of insanity I began to seek God's face. That was some twenty-three years ago and it has taken me that long to get beyond religion. Going beyond Religion and developing a personal relationship with God has brought about a complete reversal of my life.

Art critic, James Auer quite accurately sums up my works:

"Rosemary Ollison packs an amazing amount of anguish and hope into a truly impressive array of seemingly autobiographical drawings, in markers on paper." James Auer, art critic Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Below are pictures of my journals from 1984 to 2006. About three years ago I bought a computer and sometimes I do my journaling on the computer when I want to insert pictures that I take.

	Was it a random choice to a bride from a groom? Was it by chance or was it all a plan? Did I win the battle because I was strong? I made it but was it a mistake or was it wrong? In a split second I could have been someone else or not at all I know that I am not here because of humans plan No one said it’s just what I wanted! It’s a girl! Welcome to the world Did God in heaven rejoice when I was born? Did the angels in heaven rejoice when I was born? Or was it a sad occasion or just another sin child added to the world
	I became confused and afraid so I started to run! I have been running for so long Running! Running! Running! For so very, very, very long Running through rivers Running through storms Afraid! Afraid! Afraid! Afraid so I run I run, I run, I run
	Hand and hand we walked together when everyone thought I was all alone When I thought I had no helper you were there in all your grace When I couldn’t manage my life your Holy Spirit was my guide
	I no longer live in a black and white world I am now God’s little girl and I will never be abandoned again I can sin and still live The rain (my bloody tears) is slacking up and I can get a peek of a rainbow I can see my Creator in the distance I am soon expecting a visitation from him I am waiting, I am hoping

My life is so awesomely full!!
I rejoice in waking up every morning new
because my God has something new for me to do
I don’t have to worry about the anxieties of life
because all I need and more my God ample supply
I wake up early every morning waiting to see what my Father has for me to do

Some days He disciples me revealing my sins for me to see
Some days He just simply sat with me quietly just loving me
Some days He gives me ideas, so I spend the day creating what pleases me
Some days He doesn’t tell me exactly what to do, so I rejoice in just waiting
Some days He sends me to someone who needs the love he has put into my heart

At the end of each day He looks me in the eyes—and just nods
I spend most of my time with my God, my Father
No disrespect he is “My Right Hand Man”

I love to be discipline, to be set straight by my Father
Even though some times it is real painful
But once I have been set on the straight path, once I have been informed
I rejoice because in my Father and his son Jesus I have learned to trust

When I lie down at night I can sleep in peace
because I have spent the day with my Father and my savior Jesus Christ
When I go to bed at night I say to my Father Jehovah and his son Jesus
NIGHT! NIGHT!
Then I sleep like a baby while they watch over me

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