Culture
Visionary Artists Visit Family Roots Festival
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
Posted on:
The Third Annual Family Roots Festival kicked off at Smoke Rise Ranch in Glouster on Thursday, bringing people together for music, art and community.
The festival’s name held a special meaning for famed visionary artist Alex Grey, who was raised in Columbus.
He and his wife Allyson Grey attended the festival on Thursday to meet guests, and speak about their experience in consciousness expansion.
Alex Grey’s work encompasses the use of anatomy and human consciousness in his works. His paintings have been featured as album art for bands such as Tool, The String Cheese Incident, Meshuggah, the Beastie Boys and Nirvana.
The Greys are currently working to finish their “church”–the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors–in the Hudson Valley in New York. The mission of CoSM is to build an enduring sanctuary of visionary art to inspire and evolve the creative spirit.
In addition to their facility in New York, the couple also travel around the world to attend gatherings, give lectures and live paint.
During the performance of Ozric Tentacles — a psychedelic rock band from England — on Thursday evening, the Greys set up their easels and painted in front of the stage. Alex painted a self portrait and Allyson worked on a piece featuring symbols from a sacred language.
Allyson said the couple visit Ohio at least once a year to see Alex’s family. Alex said he was happy to be able to spend two days with his family in Columbus before traveling to Glouster for the festival.
For information about the Greys’ work and the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, visit www.cosm.org.
For information on the Family Roots Festival, visit www.familyrootsfest.com.