Works by
Jerry Wennstrom
(Artist, Writer)

Books

• The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation (2002)
  In this book, Jerry Wennstrom tells the extraordinary story of his daring exploration into the source of his creativity. In the late 1970s, Wennstrom was a rising star in the New York art world when he realized that he was too attached to his identity as an artist, and set out to discover the rock-bottom truth of his life. He destroyed his large body of art, gave away all of his possessions, and spent the next 10 years living in the moment, on basically nothing, surrendered to unconditional trust and the creative inspiration of his heart.
  
  Transformed, he re-emerged into the world as a more complete human being and artist with an entirely new type of art, rooted in innocence and spontaneity. Today his art pieces have taken the form of unique, interactive, life-size sculptural pieces made largely out of found objects that open up to reveal inner workings and hidden surprises.
  
  The book includes 16 color pages of his exquisite and intriguing art. Photos of art work for book and Web site are taken by Ed Severinghaus.
  
  The Inspired Heart tells of a life lived by the singular requirement of Grace - to remain fearlessly attuned to the heart.

Video/DVD

• In the Hands of Alchemy: The Art and Life of Jerry Wennstrom (2001)
  Jerry Wennstrom, Phil Lucas, director with Mark Sadan, photographer with appearances by Appearances by David Whyte and monks of the Depung-Loseling Tibetan Monastery.   
  DVD  VHS
  
  A portrait of artist Jerry Wennstrom whose work and life have become one--a spontaneous exercise in joy and an inspiration to all who aspire to make art out of life. By the 1970s, Jerry had acquired a loft space in Nyack, NY and was leading the life of a young, successful artist, frequently delving into the dark side in his work. However, he eventually painted himself out of painting. His creations had become a "false god." Unattached to his creations, he decided the ultimate creative leap was to destroy his work. "It was a powerful, holy experience that left me shaken and empty, but exhilarated," says Jerry. He walked out of his loft and for the next ten years lived with nothing, trusting his true God to take care of him. Jerry is an ordinary man who made the extraordinary decision to live, work and be in a state of surrender to the will of divine energy. This choice affects everyone he comes in contact with. This film is a documentary of that choice and ! its effect.
  
  A film for anyone with the sneaking suspicion that they are much more than the sum of what they produce; anyone who aspires to make art out of life; everyone who desires freedom!
  
  (Includes the singing of Jerry's wife, Marilyn Strong.  Marilyn brings depth of understanding, chanting and excellent ritual creation to any event.)

See also:

• Holy Personal: Looking for Small Private Places of Worship (2000) by Laura Chester
  Laura Chester documents the American landscape as well as the American soul, as she and photographer-friend, Donna Demari, traverse the continent looking for small, private places of worship. From a chapel made of tires in Alabama, to one fashioned from a wine cask in Sonoma, California, from a root cellar shrine in Boston, to a stupa tower on Whidbey Island….  (Marilyn and Jerry Wennstrom's charming Whidbey Island home has a 40-foot meditation tower  which is featured along with his story in this book.)
  
  Holy Personal furthers the idea of honoring our differences, while being mindful of our oneness. It bears witness to a yearning for religious privacy, a deep desire to create for oneself a holy chamber, a place where creative expression joins hands with devotion.
   Luminous photographs by DeMari reveal the intimate nature of these unique places.