IN THE HANDS OF ALCHEMY
Original Film on DVD
This DVD, originally produced and distributed by Parabola Magazine is now distributed by Sentient Publications. The video spans a 27-year period of Jerry's art and life and includes all three films made about him:
(New) Studio Dialogue (2006) - a new 30-minute presentation before a live audience by Jerry Wennstrom with music by Marilyn Strong.
In The Hands of Alchemy: The Art and Life of Jerry Wennstrom (2000)
The Life and Work of Jerry Wennstrom (1978)
In the Hands of Alchemy is a film for Anyone with the sneaking suspicion that they are more than the sum of what they produce, anyone who aspires to make art out of life, everyone who desires freedom. — Parabola Magazine
David Whyte — Website
Click the button to read poet David Whyte’s two page tribute to Jerry and his work, titled “The Dark Has Eyes to Recognize its Own.”
For in-depth stories about life after he destroyed his work, see Jerry's book, The Inspired Heart: An Artist’s Journey of Transformation
You can also see Jerry's recent body of work in carved wooden and mechanical sculptures, which include found and altered items.
Parabola’s Film Festival
Meeting after a video showing at the Cinema of the Spirit Film Festival. in San Francisco. From left to right: Shems Friedlander (Director of Rumi: Wings of Love,, Marilyn Strong, Jerry Wennstrom (center), Mickey Lemle (Director Ram Das: Fierce Grace , Compassion in Exile and The Last Dalai Lama,), Joe Kulin (Publisher of Parabola), and Andrea Kulin.
Marilyn Strong, opening with song and ritual for Parabola's Cinema of the Spirit film festival, Birmingham Museum of Art showing of In the hands of Alchemy.
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From — Tsultrim Allione, Founder Tara Mandala & author of Woman of Wisdom
This is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary artist. Jerry’s understanding of freedom and the gift of emptiness, the compassion that is inseparable from the void, is a lived and embodied realization. To see how this gifted artist chose to make his life an expression of his understanding of truth is a tremendous inspiration.
From — Vicki Robin coauthor, Your Money or Your Life
Jerry Wennstrom is one of a kind — and his point is that any of us can be that. We can, like him, walk straight into the heart of mystery and emerge more ourselves than we could ever imagine. He tells his story of being called to destroy his art, of struggling to hear any message but that one, of surrendering his will and allowing the soft something beyond will to guide him. It's all a fabulous tale worth hearing again and again like a great myth, and it's a deep, simple instruction for how to find ourselves in the middle of a life that seems real, but is often missing the central character. Jerry's amazing recent artwork, and his extraordinarily beautiful and talented wife Marilyn swirl around this story of a courageous soul, making it even more compelling. Best would be to know Jerry as I am privileged to do, second best is watching this film.
Phil Lucas, a Native American filmmaker for both PBS and Turner Broadcasting, directed In the Hands of Alchemy, originally a Parabola film, released in 2000.
Click below to read the story about creating the film, as told in Jerry Wennstrom’s book, “A Second Wind”
Birmingham Museum of Art Film event. L to R - Micky Lemle, Jerry Wennstrom, Marilyn Strong and Joe Kulin.
More Critical Acclaim for In the Hands of Alchemy
From — Claire Dunne, author, C.G. Jung Wounded Healer of the Soul, from Parabola
“In Jerry Wennstrom, his life is his art and art his life, a seamless flow from inner to outer expression of light and dark, multileveled, joyously humored and lit with authentic experience of being in service to its Source. Seeing Jerry's film, I can't divorce it from the gentle strength of his personal presence accompanying it. His experience based wisdom and knowing feeling are a penetrating complement to the life and work so powerfully portrayed on screen.”
From — Carolyn North, author, The Experience of a Life Time and Death: The Experience of a Life Time
In The Hands of Alchemy is, on one level, the story of Jerry Wennstrom's life and work, but on a deeper level it is about what can happen when one person gives up everything - home, work, money, 'things.' It is ultimately about dying,... about letting go into the unknown and unfathomable, and finding oneself. Jerry Wennstrom's life gives witness to the blessed state of utter surrender into emptiness through which life becomes an unexpected garden of creative abundance, simple profundity, ordinary sacredness and everyday love. It is a poignant metaphor for all of us mortals who fear loss of everything we define as ours -- including our lives.
From — Christina Baldwin, author, Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest
“I think there is a real difference in human beings who have let themselves be thrown to the ground by life. Jerry did that with an intentional act with his art. He is on the other side of that kind of psychic death and renewal. He really is a kind of phoenix who has risen from the ashes. He teaches us in a very gentle way you can survive an act like that, you can come through as a human being with great gentleness and beauty and that you can create your life in a highly profound and artistic fashion.”
From — Corwin Fergus, filmmaker, writer, Jungian analyst
In the Hands of Alchemy' is Jerry Wennstrom's story. It is the story of an artist's relationship to the Mystery and surrender. Wennstrom's gift comes through clearly, but his genius and courage to get out of its way forms the heart of the story.
The Mystery suffuses the ordinary, and the ordinary becomes Mysterious. Meanwhile, Wennstrom's art has become both profound and whimsical, and we find ourselves feeling inspired and blessed.
From — Laura Simms, storyteller and author, Bone Man
“In the Hands of Alchemy is a revelation of the possibility of living directly in response to the soul of the world. It is a letting go, a widening deeply inward toward ceaseless renewal. Jerry Wennstrom's story is a tale of the wish fulfilling abundance of trust and intuition. It is a heartist's journey.
There are few stories this inspiring and brave about artist as holy human being rather than maker of art. In a world addicted to concept and alienation, he is a man who was called to spirit and dared to answer the call. A man lives in a state of prayer. He does not need to seek creativity, but becomes it. Sharing this reality reminds us of another more primal way of being in the world, closer to the creativity of our ancestors who listened with the ears of animals and lived drenched in a sense of the sacred.”