Overview

A Second Wind is a retrospective arrangement of beautiful new photographs of Jerry Wennstrom's artwork, by Seattle architectural photographer, Andrew van Leeuwen, and earlier pictures spanning a period of over 50 years. A Second Wind is a retrospective arrangement of beautiful new photographs of Jerry Wennstrom's artwork, by Seattle architectural photographer, Andrew van Leeuwen, and earlier pictures spanning a period of over 50 years. The book's 260 pages include rescued images of his destroyed paintings; (in 1979) a creative act of liberation and the turning point of Wennstrom's life where he gave himself to becoming and living the creation by giving away his possession, abandoning the life of a studio painter, and living a monk-like life for over a decade. Representing Wennstrom's ""Second Wind"" of art, the book also features colorful full-page spreads of the exotic, archetypal carved figures that came later. Wennstrom speaks to the new level of creative freedom by saying in the book; Art abandoned for the meaningful allurement of a higher calling ... and the return to art without compulsion, for no reason at all. Included in the book are many stories -- both art-related and transformational -- written by the author along with ""creative responses"" by over 50 notables who have been impressed with Wennstrom's works over the decades. Those responses include stories and creative expressions by and of cultural anthropologists Margaret Mead and Jean Houston; Jungian analysts and scholars Marion Woodman, Claire Dunne, and Corwin Fergus; psychologists/drug researchers Ralph Metzner and Christopher Bache; cosmologist Brian Swimme, storytellers Laura Simms and Vi Hilbert; poet David Whyte, artist Deborah Koff-Chapin and visionary financiers Charlie Hess and Vici Robin; the Dalai Lama's Gyuto monks, and even legendary chanteuse Lotte Lenya (of The Threepenny Opera and From Russia With Love fame).

Full Product Details

9781591813170

Table of Contents

Reviews

"A joyful celebration of life and art... This is a colossal literary/mixed media work, the capstone of the life and work of a creative artist and spiritual pilgrim that is without parallel. I am not aware of any coffee table book with such a lush combination of original art, photography, poetry, epiphanies, stories, cameo endorsements, and memoir. This beautifully-printed book is also a communal work, a tribute and labor of love from Wennstrom's incredibly talented circle of friends ... In 1979, after his paintings were on the brink of artistic acclaim in NYC's art world, Jerry's Inner Muse urged him to begin his life over. Abandoning his paintings and leaving his studio behind, Jerry embarked on a daily spiritual odyssey that years later landed him on Whidbey Island, a New Age enclave, where he was to meet his future wife and Outer Muse, Marilyn Strong. It was in this new realm that Jerry's creative genius again took root and blossomed. No longer painting, his new endeavor would be creating incredible archetypal carved statues and mystical interactive structures, serendipitously assembled from recovered bits and pieces. Hence, this Second Wind and Resurrection.--Joe Kulin, former publisher for Parabola I suppose this piece - my poem ""Sweet Darkness""- is really about how much attention are you willing to give to the world? Will you look - will you see - will you hear? It seems to me that Jerry had reached a place where he wasn't actually paying attention in as full a way as he felt he could. And so he stepped off into that sweet darkness and that sweet unknown - which to most of us is quite terrifying - and made a friendship with the eye of that darkness; he was able to see a reflection of himself, eventually, that was actually larger than the person who was looking out onto the world to begin with. One of the magnificent things about Jerry is his profound and courageous innocence. He has created a friendship with a part of himself which is in love with the world, and his art displays that. Jerry is one of the few people I know who, in a very quiet way, has actually claimed his happiness in existence.--David Whyte, Poet Inspiring and exciting!... I have just read Jerry Wennstrom's amazing, illustrated book of his artistic journey. As a well-known artist in New York, Jerry felt alienated from his own creations because of many factors, including commercialization. He destroyed all his art, gave everything away, and undertook a spiritual journey of 15 years which led to the rebirth of the authentic, creative art that this book depicts: ""A Second Wind: Art Resurrected."" The book is a village, also including images, essays, poems, and stories of those touched by Jerry's journey and his art. The ordinary is transformed into the miraculous in Jerry's powerful depictions of the repressed and transcendent Feminine. I can't say enough positive about this book - I love how it's a collection of voices and genres. It's wise to take seriously the invitation to interact with all facets of the book, with the images, poems and richness of it, and let it move you deeply. The well-known poet David Whyte's idea of the 'sweet darkness' that Jerry entered on his own artistic path gives hope to others who get stuck in that darkness of creative paralysis! By daring to enter the unknown, Jerry describes how a transformation and flowering of creativity can occur. This book is a village, clustered around a mystic. I highly recommend it.--Dana Crowley Jack, Author of ""Silencing the Self: Women and Depression Mind blowing creative work... ""A Second Wind"" by Jerry Wennstrom is wonderful beyond measure. The sculptures and murals and other creations are unlike any other. Jerry's background is interesting and has lead to his purpose of artistic storytelling. He has found the space between the existential and mystical. He pursues his search to go beyond the superficial. His masterful pieces can be deep and amusing and playful.--Pam Schell, Wife of the former Mayor of Seattle This is no ordinary coffee table book that one might glance through and put back down. This book of art is so unique it is far in the future and demands that you get involved yourself and insists on a response that is often deep and even unconscious. Jerry's art is both dark and light it captures all of life, sometimes with levity sometimes with uncompromising truth that for some is hard to embrace. Not only is the book full of Jerry's masterful pieces of art but stories that bring one closer to what art is all about and how important it is that we listen to our artists, poets, and even dreamers. Throughout the book, the reader gets to know Jerry's extraordinary journey so that by the end you feel you know a man who has done his inner work, who has renounced what does not serve humanity, and has kept a steady course navigating his own integrity which can be lonely and at the same time produce breathtaking art. T he book is jam packed with stories that are far from superficial - they only serve to deepen the reader's experience so that while reading this book you question your own life, your own values, and even ask the question why am I here? Jerry dives deeply into the source of existence, those often difficult places we find ourselves. And always there is art to heighten the experience and force the reader to look directly at what makes us human. With humor and levity, he has us look at death and our fear of death. Looking through this book is like having your own life-changing dream. When you turn the last page you resolve to be more human, more fearless, more compassionate, and with the knowledge that every one of us lives on the edge of vast experiences.--Judith Adams, Poet, Author of ""A Place Inside"""

A joyful celebration of life and art... This is a colossal literary/mixed media work, the capstone of the life and work of a creative artist and spiritual pilgrim that is without parallel. I am not aware of any coffee table book with such a lush combination of original art, photography, poetry, epiphanies, stories, cameo endorsements, and memoir. This beautifully-printed book is also a communal work, a tribute and labor of love from Wennstrom's incredibly talented circle of friends ... In 1979, after his paintings were on the brink of artistic acclaim in NYC's art world, Jerry's Inner Muse urged him to begin his life over. Abandoning his paintings and leaving his studio behind, Jerry embarked on a daily spiritual odyssey that years later landed him on Whidbey Island, a New Age enclave, where he was to meet his future wife and Outer Muse, Marilyn Strong. It was in this new realm that Jerry's creative genius again took root and blossomed. No longer painting, his new endeavor would be creating incredible archetypal carved statues and mystical interactive structures, serendipitously assembled from recovered bits and pieces. Hence, this Second Wind and Resurrection.--Joe Kulin, former publisher for Parabola I suppose this piece - my poem ""Sweet Darkness""- is really about how much attention are you willing to give to the world? Will you look - will you see - will you hear? It seems to me that Jerry had reached a place where he wasn't actually paying attention in as full a way as he felt he could. And so he stepped off into that sweet darkness and that sweet unknown - which to most of us is quite terrifying - and made a friendship with the eye of that darkness; he was able to see a reflection of himself, eventually, that was actually larger than the person who was looking out onto the world to begin with. One of the magnificent things about Jerry is his profound and courageous innocence. He has created a friendship with a part of himself which is in love with the world, and his art displays that. Jerry is one of the few people I know who, in a very quiet way, has actually claimed his happiness in existence.--David Whyte, Poet Inspiring and exciting!... I have just read Jerry Wennstrom's amazing, illustrated book of his artistic journey. As a well-known artist in New York, Jerry felt alienated from his own creations because of many factors, including commercialization. He destroyed all his art, gave everything away, and undertook a spiritual journey of 15 years which led to the rebirth of the authentic, creative art that this book depicts: ""A Second Wind: Art Resurrected."" The book is a village, also including images, essays, poems, and stories of those touched by Jerry's journey and his art. The ordinary is transformed into the miraculous in Jerry's powerful depictions of the repressed and transcendent Feminine. I can't say enough positive about this book - I love how it's a collection of voices and genres. It's wise to take seriously the invitation to interact with all facets of the book, with the images, poems and richness of it, and let it move you deeply. The well-known poet David Whyte's idea of the 'sweet darkness' that Jerry entered on his own artistic path gives hope to others who get stuck in that darkness of creative paralysis! By daring to enter the unknown, Jerry describes how a transformation and flowering of creativity can occur. This book is a village, clustered around a mystic. I highly recommend it.--Dana Crowley Jack, Author of ""Silencing the Self: Women and Depression Mind blowing creative work... ""A Second Wind"" by Jerry Wennstrom is wonderful beyond measure. The sculptures and murals and other creations are unlike any other. Jerry's background is interesting and has lead to his purpose of artistic storytelling. He has found the space between the existential and mystical. He pursues his search to go beyond the superficial. His masterful pieces can be deep and amusing and playful.--Pam Schell, Wife of the former Mayor of Seattle This is no ordinary coffee table book that one might glance through and put back down. This book of art is so unique it is far in the future and demands that you get involved yourself and insists on a response that is often deep and even unconscious. Jerry's art is both dark and light it captures all of life, sometimes with levity sometimes with uncompromising truth that for some is hard to embrace. Not only is the book full of Jerry's masterful pieces of art but stories that bring one closer to what art is all about and how important it is that we listen to our artists, poets, and even dreamers. Throughout the book, the reader gets to know Jerry's extraordinary journey so that by the end you feel you know a man who has done his inner work, who has renounced what does not serve humanity, and has kept a steady course navigating his own integrity which can be lonely and at the same time produce breathtaking art. T he book is jam packed with stories that are far from superficial - they only serve to deepen the reader's experience so that while reading this book you question your own life, your own values, and even ask the question why am I here? Jerry dives deeply into the source of existence, those often difficult places we find ourselves. And always there is art to heighten the experience and force the reader to look directly at what makes us human. With humor and levity, he has us look at death and our fear of death. Looking through this book is like having your own life-changing dream. When you turn the last page you resolve to be more human, more fearless, more compassionate, and with the knowledge that every one of us lives on the edge of vast experiences.--Judith Adams, Poet, Author of ""A Place Inside""

Author Information

Artist and writer Jerry Wennstrom was born in New York, where he lived out the first half of his prolific art career. The superficial Andy-Warhol- Soho-art-scene in the late '70s repelled him, yet his own obsession with art rang false as well. In 1979, after days of fasting and realizing his limits as a studio painter, he destroyed his large body of art, gave away his possessions, and trusted the spirit of creativity itself to carry his life. He threw himself out into the world, penniless and homeless, for nearly fifteen years. And as he discovered, unseen hands carried his life. He eventually found a home again, on Whidbey Island, WA, which offered an extensive creative community. There he met his wife-to-be, Marilyn Strong. The pair have toured the country with Parabola magazine's Cinema of the Spirit film festival and taught workshops in dreamwork and myth. Wennstrom began painting again, this time murals on the walls of the tall, 1,000-sq-ft space below the home they shared. He also started crafting large cabinets and sculptures, each exotic and evocative, embodying paradox and metaphorical opposites such as life/death, shadow/light, and masculine/feminine. In 2000, a Parabola video, In the Hands of Alchemy, was released describing his early painting career, the destruction of his life's work, the story of his personal transformation, and his eventual return to art. His life of artistic exile was told in his autobiographical book, The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation from Sentient Publications (2002). A Second Wind not only fills in details of Wennstrom's early life, but picks up the story and shows the incredible work that has emerged from the last twenty years. This latter work is celebratory in nature, integrating joyful embodiment and revealing the golden thread of a long and magical journey. It is Wennstrom's second wind, his life and art resurrected.

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