The Mission of Art: 20th Anniversary Edition
The Mission of Art: 20th Anniversary Edition book cover

The Mission of Art: 20th Anniversary Edition

Paperback – November 27, 2018

Price
$19.95
Format
Paperback
Pages
272
Publisher
Shambhala
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1611806755
Dimensions
5.5 x 0.75 x 8.47 inches
Weight
12 ounces

Description

“Alex Grey might be the most significant artist alive. In a world gone postmodern, bereft of meaning and value, cut loose on a sea of irony and indifference, Alex is taking a stunning stand: there is a God, there is Spirit, there is a transcendental ground and goal of human development and unfolding. Higher realities are available to us—that is the message of Alex Grey’s art and words in this book.”—from the foreword by Ken Wilber"Alex Grey's mission is nothing less than the transformation of our 'depleted world' through art that supports the evolution of human consciousness. He discusses the lives and work of artists throughout history, and his own journey, as examples of the higher mission of art, and encourages others to break out of the prevailing mood of irony and cynicism and create work with the heart and spirit." — Yoga Journal "An inspirational text for artists and for everyone else who has ever had a glimpse of art's power for personal catharsis and spiritual awakening." — Branches of Light "Grey's insistence that art should be a revelatory and healing force in our culture should resonate with artists in virtually any discipline." — Publishers Weekly Alex Grey is best known for his psychedelic depictions of the human body that “x-ray” the multiple layers of reality and reveal the interplay of anatomical and spiritual forces. His visionary paintings have been featured in venues as diverse as the album art of TOOL, the Beastie Boys, and Nirvana, as well as Newsweek magazine, the Discovery Channel, NYC’s Rose Planetarium, Burning Man, The New Museum, The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, LSD blotter art, and countless tattoos worldwide. Alex Grey and his beloved, Allyson Grey, cofounded CoSM (Chapel of Sacred Mirrors), an Art Church in the Hudson Valley where a Sanctuary of Visionary Art is being built to benefit and uplift a global community.

Features & Highlights

  • A 20th anniversary edition of the art classic that celebrates the intersection of creative expression and spirituality—from one of the greatest living artists of our time
  • Twenty years after the original publication of
  • The Mission of Art
  • , Alex Grey’s inspirational message affirming art’s power for personal catharsis and spiritual awakening is stronger than ever. In this special anniversary edition, Grey—visionary painter, spiritual leader, and best-selling author—combines his extensive knowledge of art history with his own experiences in creating art at the boundaries of consciousness. Grey examines the roles of conscience and intention in the creative process, including practical techniques and exercises useful in exploring the spiritual dimensions of art. Challenging and thought-provoking,
  • The Mission of Art
  • will be appreciated by everyone who has ever contemplated the deeper purpose of creative expression.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(143)
★★★★
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(60)
★★★
15%
(36)
★★
7%
(17)
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Most Helpful Reviews

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A Creative a Process Classic

I discovered this years ago and have gifted it to many. Interesting, Inspiring and great to help break through blockages.
1 people found this helpful
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Awakening bestowed with a radiant, pellucid finger aimed at your heart

This is an art history course instructed by the master himself, a beacon for lost souls, and an enriching mentorship for artists of all forms. A host of Grey’s transcendent masterpieces exalt his message, demonstrating ”gnosis of the divine light that shines unseen through our mundane shadow world.” For we who recoil from the anxious cravings, fears, and dissatisfactions of our profane modern life, Grey bestows hope with a single glowing finger aimed at our hearts, and he teaches us how to do the same for others.

”We can wander through life bewildered by our limitations and buffeted by events, or we can approach life as a path to spiritual liberation.”

I aspire to be a writer, not a painter, and though I have read a dozen books on the art of writing, this is the only one to teach me how to meet my Muse. The secret? I began to appreciate life’s terror and glory for its own sake, relaxing my grip on meaning / reason / closure / destination / outcome, abandoning “truth” and “progress” in favor of love and being. When “I” do not exist, what remains is a strange and beautiful dream—a vast playground of infinite possibilities—and with nothing to lose, I find I have the audacity for imaginative play. I begin to surf on the waves that hammered me, the blocks fall away, and the story takes shape.

I have several of Grey’s pieces on my wall as reminders of this realization. I’ve found nothing else to compare with their power to awaken.