I AM: Works by Mark Rouse and Michael Belk

Now – June 5 | McFarland Hall Gallery
Presented by the Fine Arts Advisory Committee

Words from the Artist: Mark Rouse

In late 2024, Mark Rouse (1955-2025) was invited to submit a new artwork for an exhibit at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Good Shepherd began a series inspired by Jesus describing himself using seven metaphors as recorded in the Book of John.

“John records the seven times that Jesus described Himself as “I AM”, just maybe, those seven statements/metaphors real the true nature of GOD….”

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Words from the Artist: Micheal Belk

Michael Belk was a successful fashion photographer with images appearing in Vogue, Elle, GQ, Vanity Fair, and many more. But something was missing until he found his faith in Jesus. Photographs featured in this exhibit come from his Journeys with the Messiah series.

“My vision was to show 1st century Jesus interacting with 21st century people from all walks of life, sharing the lessons and life instructions He came to give us.”

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Meet the Artists:

Mark Rouse 

(1955-2025)

Mark Rouse's life and work reflect a profound interplay between resilience and creativity, capturing his journey from the expansive farmlands of Hamilton County, Indiana, to a notable presence in the art world. Born in Indianapolis, Mark immersed himself in nature and rural pursuits as a child, with the pastoral charm of the Indiana countryside laying the groundwork for his artistic inclinations. 

Mentorship from an inspiring high school art teacher propelled Mark into pursuing art education at Anderson College, where a pivotal art history course culminated in an eye-opening trip to France. These formative experiences embedded a deep appreciation for the luminous quality of stained glass and the evocative power of color, which reside prominently in his work.

After college, Rouse embarked on a career in education as a junior high art teacher. However, financial strains during those early years led him to a thirty-year detour into the world of technology. This professional shift was dramatically upended in 2015 following a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, which rendered him legally blind. Defying medical prognoses through a remarkable series of surgeries, Rouse regained his vision—a miraculous recovery that reignited his passion for painting with newfound vigor, creativity, and determination. 

Rouse's artistic process blended traditional and digital techniques in true mixed-media fashion, incorporating watercolor, acrylic, and markers. Mark would begin with a watercolor wash, which he digitized and enhanced on-screen, then culminated the piece with acrylics on canvas, reserving the vitality of his vision through vibrant colors and bold composition.  

Through his art, Mark Rouse conveyed a broader message about health and awareness, using his art to educate others about the risks of diabetes. Featured in publications like the American Academy of Ophthalmology Journal and on major media platforms such as WTHR and Fox 59 News, his journey attested to the transformative power of creativity in overcoming life's challenges.   

Mark passed away in November 2025.  His legacy, however, lives on through the lives he touched, the love he shared, the works of art hanging on these walls, and his most treasured "works of art" which is found in the ways his art continues to touch and transform hearts.

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Michael Belk

I got my start in fashion working in fine men’s clothing stores in high school and college. By age 23, I landed a prestigious job with a leading men’s clothing brand. Then I discovered photography, and a new passion was born.

What if I could combine my eye for photography with my knowledge of fashion to create “visual sales portfolios” for fashion brands? So throwing caution to the wind at age 28, I left my lucrative job to chase my dream of becoming a fashion photographer in the fashion capital of New York City.

It wasn’t easy, but I persevered, and it paid off! Over time, sales portfolios evolved into my own advertising and marketing agency for brands like J. Crew, Nautica, Talbots, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, and many more. For more than 30 years, my images appeared in Vogue, Elle, GQ, Vanity Fair, and a host of other publications as I traveled to beautiful and exotic locations in America and beyond. I was on top of my game, living the high life, and the fast-paced, jet-setting lifestyle was addictive.

“Despite my success, something was missing. The year I made the most and had the most was also the year I was most miserable. My journey detoured into a wilderness of despair.”

A wise person once said, “God has this annoying habit of stepping into our lives, even when we have pulled in the welcome mat and bolted the door.”

You see, I grew up in a loving family where church was part of our life, but I wasn’t a follower of Jesus. In fact, I didn’t know much about Him.

I had been doing life on my own terms all this time until God met me in my wilderness and brought His Son Jesus with Him. It was a meeting that changed my life forever!

In 2008, sensing God’s prompting and with my wife’s blessings, I traded my glamorous globe-trotting lifestyle of success for a “mission of significance”—bringing Jesus Christ to life through the lens of my camera. My vision was to show 1st century Jesus interacting with 21st century people from all walks of life, sharing the lessons and life instructions He came to give us. The result is the compelling collection of fine art photography known as Journeys with the Messiah.