BOOK REVIEW: THE MISSION OF ART BY ALEX GREY

"The Mission of Art" by Alex Grey is one of the first books I read as I decided to embark my journey in to art.  The book is an essential for any artists library, as it contains both inspiration and insight. Alex Grey is considered one of the most influential visionary artists of the 20th century. Grey supports artists and the visionary culture by hosting events, workshops and tutorials at his Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in upstate New York.

"The Mission of Art" begins by exploring the history of art. From neolithic hominids painting on caves and carving rough hewn fertility goddesses of stone, Grey articulates how each stage of art throughout time, has had a spiritual aspect to it. From Da Vinci's portraits to the representational art of the 19th Century, and all the way up to the Postmodernist movement.  The loathing of the Postmodern movement is a constant theme throughout the text, as Grey demonstrates that  Postmodern expression lacks conscious understanding.

Grey goes on the elaborate his personal journey and Mission of Art as an artist. He goes in to detail about his childhood, and shows some of his very early works as a child. Grey always seemed fascinated with death and anatomy, and it is reflected in his work and journey as an artist. The book accounts his experiences in High School and Art School, as well as the entheogenetic experiences he had and now they affected the work. Greys transformation is highlighted with life events, and how these events took a toll on the artist, and how the art was affected. This part of the book could be easily summarized by this quote, " An artists progresses from the primitive scrawls of childhood to magic/mystical imagery on to reasoned skill and clever ideas, then potentially on to works of spiritual depth."

Vision Crystal by Alex Grey

As much Grey loathes the Postmodernist movement, he elaborates his ideas about it and just about other "ism" and movement up to it. The main gripe Grey has with Postmodern movement is the lack of soul and spirituality in it. Grey's art is derived from a very spiritual space of transpersonal transformation. Transpersonalism is also another theme that is expressed in detail throughout the text. Transpersonalism is where psychology and spirituality intersect. He explains in "Mission of Art" that "Art is communion..offered through the symbolic language of form and content."  By form and content he not only means the skillfully applied mediums to canvas or otherwise, he also means form and content as spiritual subtext to communicate a higher message. Visionary Art, as it is traditionally defined is an exploration of the divine. Greys explorations and metaphors for growth and expression of his idealistic transpersonal vision is clear.

Grey also looks at many spiritual archetypes, and uses these archetypes as metaphors for growth and discovery of personal and artistic aspects. The Godhead, the Light, The Goddess, Death, The Child. All of these ideas are not only used in Greys artwork, they are explored in depth with meaning and in elaborate detail. Grey's TED talk has a similar theme about the evolution of art and consciousness. His book goes in to much more detail than the talk.

In conclusion, Grey's "A Mission of Art" is an inspiring book for creatives looking to shed conventional ways of thinking about art and returning to ones vision and personal power. Grey also emphasizes the importance of the art community growth. The book is  a little heavy in new age ideals but it can easily be read as one artists "mission" or spiritual journey. This is the second time I have read this book, and would recommend it to anyone who is an artist, who is "stuck" or needs inspiration, or to anyone who craves a little insight in to the mind and art of Alex Grey.