Caitlin+Thompson

=Alex Grey=
 * [[image:alexgrey.jpg width="540" height="405"]] || Alex Grey, known for his spiritual and psychedelic art, was born on november 29th,1953 in Columbus, Ohio. There he grew up in a middle-class family. His father being an artist as well, Alex's drawing skills were encourage in his youth. Grey attended Columbus College of Art and Design from 1971-1973, but dropped out after two years and held a job at painting billboards for one year. Later he returned to school at the Boston Museum School, where he met his wife, Allyson. During this era of his life, Grey experienced wholesome mystical occurrences through hallucinogenic substances such as LSD, Psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT. Later, Grey worked at Harvard Medical School preparing cadavers for dissection, which led to his fascination with the human body and soul, as seen depicted in his pieces. He currently travels teaching visionary art with wife Allyson, in New York, Colorado, and California. ||
 * Alex Grey standing next to his famous piece " The Net of Being". ||  ||

H ere are some examples of Grey's work. (Oil Paintings)
 "Saint Hoffman" of chemist, Albert Hoffman ---"Parabola"--- "Kissing"


 * [[image:Alex-Grey-Barack-Obama[6].jpg width="366" height="482"]] ||

 Alex Grey's Art is considered visionary. Here, on the left, is one of his recent paintings titled " Obama. The Anatomy of a World Leader". Obviously, President Barack Obama is represented in the painting. This piece of work, among alex's others, have both objective elements, and subjective elements. His depictions of human faces/bodies is something objective, as seen in reality, but subjectively, he adds the transparent essence of bones, arteries veins, and organs to his subjects, making it subjective. Alex Grey is very methodical about his strategy for creating a piece. Many of his artworks looks very geometric and symmetrical, almost computer-generated. His art is very controlled and precise. The type of space represented is plastic and has alot of perspective given in the details of Obama's face. There is also strong value to emphasize the natural typography of Obama's face. Grey also uses bright magnificent color in most of his pictures, more conservatively on this one then most. Grey is very talented at texture of a natural human face, along with the sense of a transparent skin, enabling you to see his anatomy. 3 Principles of organization that stand out are Proportions, Balance and Harmony. The proportions of the face are very accurate to that of Obama's face, and have been carefully evaluated. This painting has much balance to it, employing subtle shades of brown and tan in the face, and bold patriotic colors in the background. But the picture has harmony, because of this balance. the bold, colorful background blends pleasurably with the fine detail of Obama's face, creating harmonious contrast between the two, emphasizes each other.

As stated on Alex Grey's [|Website] " After hearing Barack Obama's speech in BerIin, and noting the degree of excitement and hope that he generated throughout many countries besides the US, I started to see him as one of the first true "world leaders." This may be partly because of his extraordinary childhood and political life that has bridged many cultures. Obama's restraint and intelligence, exhibited as foes were bating him throughout the campaign, his heartful clarity coming through in his talks are all qualities of a highly evolved person". Alex's proclamation of support and enthusiasm project admiration and respect of Barack Obama. Alex believes Barack to be the makings of a potential global leader, and this is shown by the globe located where the spiritual third eye is.

I believe Alex Grey's art has fascinated and inspired many. His masterpieces fulfill not just artistic tastfullness, but a deep spirituality about the world. His visionary paintings depict worlds some can only imagine, and worlds that others have experienced. I think he has made great contributions to the world of art because his style is unlike any other. Not only has he portrayed his spirituality through his art, but he is also not afraid of the taboo culture of hallucinogens. He readily states that they are the prime influence in his work, and does not let fear of public opinion, or even unlawfulness get in the way of his religious practices of psychedelic drugs, or his expression of the visions he receives on them.

=Videos:=

Alex Grey talks about his exhibit ' Sacred Mirrors' :

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Alex talks about Albert Hoffman, creator of LSD :

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Alex talks about Ayahuasca experience:

[|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s376qEZGY0]

Here is my painting in the style of Alex Grey's technique.



Title: Soul Food Media: Acrylic Paint Size: 12x18 inches 2010

Sources:
//Alex Grey//. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. . Cotter, Holland. "Alex Grey; [Review]." //New York Times// (2002): 2-33. //Proquest//. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. Davis, Erik. "Psychonautical." //The Village Voice// 58th ser. 47.31 (2002). //Proquest//. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. Freeman Gill, John. "Amid the Galleries, An Art-Filled Chapel." //New York Times// (2006): 14.5.//Proquest//. Web. 6 Apr. 2010 Grey, Alex. "Alex Grey 2010". //Amber Lotus// (2010). Print. 20 Mar. 2010.