CoSM the Movie - Alex Grey and the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
by Nick Krasnic
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DVD details
Actor: Alex Grey (II)Director: Nick Krasnic
Brand: New Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 80 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-28
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Docurama
Product features:
- COSM: THE MOVIE is an invitation to personal reflection, growth, and harmony, leading spiritual adventurers on an enriching and sense-heightening journey into the visionary art cosmos of world-renowned painter, sculptor, and author Alex Grey. Grey is our guide on a cinematic pilgrimage through the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors gallery in New York City, where the artworks combine science and spiritual w
DVD Reviews of CoSM the Movie - Alex Grey and the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
DVD Review: A Tour of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NYC
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Sacred Mirrors are a journey through our physical, socio-political, and spiritual anatomy." - Alex Grey
The internal architecture of the human skeleton, viscera, blood vessels, nerves, the subtle energetic system of the body--all are fodder for the trippy visions of artist Alex Grey. "My life is committed to making artwork that wakes people up to the miracle of Life", the artist once said, and a group a friends and supporters sought to make a sacred space of contemplation dedicated to the Sacred Mirrors series and Grey's other works--the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM).
Although Grey felt a natural setting to be the ideal location of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, CoSM resides in NYC where life-sized and super-sized portraits and sculptures convey Grey's unique perspective on consciousness and the web of life.
A documentary set inside the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, the CoSM DVD gives viewers a tour of the "multi-dimensional perspective painted visions of common human experiences" such as birth, death, kissing, copulating, and praying. Sculptures such as World Soul--a bronze sculpture depicting a multi-faced winged guardian atop a globe--are also included in the DVD.
The soft-spoken Grey barely touches on media and method, rather addressing the larger spiritual and socio-political themes represented in his work. It would seem that hallucinogenic drugs have inspired a large portion of his work. For example, he says that a "high-dose LSD experience" inspired Theologue--a painting where Grey attempted to capture the essence of how humanity creates this elaborate illusion known as "reality".
Indeed, Grey credits his wife, Allyson, with inspiring the Sacred Mirror series. When first describing how he met his wife--and some of his artistic visions--Grey shares: "I met my wife while tripping on LSD...and we continued to sacramentally ingest the hallucinogenic host to learn from these experiences. On one of these adventures, while lying in bed listening to music, I became a ball of light..."
For some reason, Allyson isn't interviewed in this 80 minute DVD, although one of her fantastic geometric paintings was on display (I can't be sure, but I *believe* it was Jewel Net of Indra--I don't recall them saying the name on the DVD, but I think it's the same painting shown in the book Transfigurations). In my opinion, it was one of the most arresting images show in this documentary!
In the CoSM DVD, Alex Grey comes across as a thoughtful and compassionate man with his head screwed on straight. Frankly, I was surprised, especially after viewing some of the dark, gruesome, and disturbing (to me) images found in his earlier work and depicted in the book Transfiguration (not to mention his frequent use and praise of DMT, pot, and LSD.)
While the documentarian put a lot of hard work into this DVD (as evidenced in the extras), I was disappointed that Grey didn't share much on the media he used with the various Sacred Mirrors paintings. (However, I looked up the paintings in Transfigurations and found mention of this kind of minutia.) For example, I found out from Transfigurations that the head of the bronze sculpture World Soul was filled with "sacred substances" (i.e. drugs), religious symbols, prayers, Native American maize, hair snippets and other items before it was sealed and consecrated. None of this was mentioned in the DVD for some reason.
The CoSM DVD is a gentle introduction to the X-ray visions, philosophy, and transcendent art of Alex Grey. If you're already a fan--and have books like Transfiguration--you may not find much new here (other than Grey's soft-spoken demeanor). If you have the Sacred Mirrors Cards but would like to know more on Grey's method and perspectives, you'll likely enjoy the CoSM DVD and perhaps even Transfigurations.
You can visit CoSM online at CoSM.org for more information.
Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)
Description of CoSM the Movie - Alex Grey and the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
COSM: THE MOVIE is an invitation to personal reflection, growth, and harmony, leading spiritual adventurers on an enriching and sense-heightening journey into the visionary art cosmos of world-renowned painter, sculptor, and author Alex Grey. Grey is our guide on a cinematic pilgrimage through the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors gallery in New York City, where the artworks combine science and spiritual wisdom. Reflecting the human experience from birth to death and beyond, the vividly rendered depictions of human anatomy and transcendental imagery suggests the unity of all things. COSM: THE MOVIE reverently illuminates possibilities of enlightenment and the evolution of conscience and consciousness. Fusing the power of music with stunning cinematorgraphy, director Nick Krasnic and narrator Alex Grey channel the raw power of Grey?s art into a potent film odyssey that captures the essence of this unique sacred space, and offers rare, personal insight from one of the most significant artists of our time.Following Alex Grey's first film, Artmind, CoSM is a documentary that further defines Grey's lofty spiritual ideals by walking the viewer through a series of works made for Grey's masterpiece, The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Grey, known for his cosmic, anatomically detailed paintings of humans connecting with the universe, takes the viewer on a journey from birth to death in this non-profit gallery/gathering space created for community gatherings. Starting with artworks depicting the physical body, Grey's work branches out into an exploration of various stages in a person's psychic and spiritual development, culled from a complex mix of Eastern and Western philosophical and religious perspectives. One potent example is a painting of humans dissolved into pure light, rendered in a series of hyperbolic curves and light beams bouncing off one another. Filmmaker Nick Krasnic does a fine job of allowing Grey's narration, as he explains the concepts and inspirations behind each piece, to be the focus of each scene, though CoSM's rave-era trance music soundtrack adds unnecessary melodrama. Watching CoSM is a meditation not only on art viewing but also on an artist who believes in unlimited human potential. ?-Trinie Dalton
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