Jerry Wennstrom
Jerry Wennstrom, born in New York City, 1950, is an artist, author, and innovator who is known for the abandonment of his art, money, and possession to embark on an exploration of the unknown.
Education
Before the artistic journey that would change his life, Jerry attended the Rockland Community College and the State University of New Paltz. Becoming famous in the art world by the age of 29, Wennstrom had created a large amount of artwork that would soon be discarded in efforts to obtain the ultimate truth.
Artistic Journey
Searching for a deeper and more meaningful creativity, Jerry Wennstrom destroyed all of his art and forfeited everything he owned to test life’s boundaries. He lived in this manner for 15 years, until he met Marilyn Strong, his future wife. The pair settled in Washington and started over. Their house is now filled with new and unique sculptures and paintings. Wennstrom's book, The Inspired Heart, traces his experiences searching for an authentic spirituality and reveals the beautiful artwork that he created along the way.
Documentary
In the DVD, In the Hands of Alchemy, co-directed by Phil Lucas and Mark Sadan, Wennstrom speaks about his journey towards creativity. In the film, his artwork is brilliantly portrayed to give the viewer a private look into the mind of Jerry Wennstrom. David Whyte states, "There is a tremendous kind of courage that Jerry showed in the midst of the chaos and the individual loneliness of the post-modern world, to go his own way. It was the ultimate artistic step."
Appearances
Jerry has made presentations at art galleries and museums around the country, such as, Birmingham Art Museum, Glen Arbor Art Association, the Seattle Art Museum, NYU, and the California Institute of Arts. Wennstrom has also done over 50 radio, TV, and magazine interviews.
Bibliography
The Inspired Heart (ISBN 0-9710786-9-6)
Videography
In the Hands of Alchemy (ISBN 1-59181-057-4)