While researching what has been published in the area of psychedelic creativity
and visionary art, we quickly realized that we had opened a can of worms. There
was much more to read and view than we could possibly hope to absorb in a short
time, or cover even in a cursory manner. The topic is vast, and the more one
looks, the deeper it becomes. As a starting point for those who desire to
investigate further, we have provided below just a few of the many resources
that we came across while working on this issue.
PDF version of this document
Baggott, M.J. 1996Ð97. ÒPsilocybinÕs effects on cognition: Recent research and its implications for enhancing creativity,Ó MAPS Bulletin 7(1):10-11. (Commenting on: Spitzer, M. et al. 1996. ÒIncreased activation of indirect semantic associations under psilocybin,Ó Biol Psychiatry 39: 1055Ð1057.)
Baker, J.R. 1994. ÒConsciousness Alteration as a Problem- Solving Device: The Psychedelic Pathway,Ó Yearbook for Ethnomedicine and the Study of Consciousness 3: 51Ð89. Verlag für Wissenschaft und Bildung, 1995 (Edited by C. Rätsch & J.R. Baker).
Barron, F. 1965. ÒThe Creative Process and the Psychedelic Experience,Ó Explorations magazine, JuneÑJuly.
DeRogatis, J. 1996. Kaleidoscope Eyes: Psychedelic Rock From the '60s to the '90s, Citadel Press/Carol Publishing Group.
Grinspoon, L, & J.B. Bakalar 1997. Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered, The Lindesmith Center. (Specifically ÒLearning and Creativity,Ó pp. 261Ð267 in Chapter 7 ÒPsychedelic Drugs and the Human Mind.Ó) Originally published in 1979 by Basic Books, Inc., a division of Harper Colophon Books.
Harman, W.W. & J. Fadiman 1970. ÒSelective Enhancement of Specific Capacities Through Psychedelic Training,Ó in Psychedelics: The Uses and Implications of Hallucinogenic Drugs, pp. 239Ð257 (Edited by B. Aaronson & H. Osmond), Anchor Books.
Harman, W.W., R.H. McKim, R.E. Mogar, J. Fadiman & M.J. Stolaroff. 1990. ÒPsychedelic Agents in Creative Problem Solving: A Pilot Study,Ó in Altered States of Consciousness third edition, pp. 532Ð550 (Edited by C.T. Tart).
Hartmann, R.P., 1974. Malerei aus Bereichen des Unbewussten: Künstler experimentieren unter LSD, Kšln: M. DuMont Schauberg.
Hayter, A. 1968. Opium and the Romantic Imagination, University of California Press.
Hickey, D. 1994 (January/February). ÒFreaks Again: On Psychedelic Art and Culture,Ó Art issues 31: 25Ð29.
Hughes, J. & J. Hughes 1999. Altered States: Creativity Under the Influence, Watson-Guptill Publications, Inc.
Izumi, K. 1970. ÒLSD and Architectural Design,Ó in Psychedelics: The Uses and Implications of Hallucinogenic Drugs, pp. 381Ð397 (Edited by B. Aaronson & H. Osmond), Anchor Books.
Janiger, O. & de Rios, M. 1989. ÒLSD and creativity,Ó Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 21: 129Ð134.
Joynson, V. 1984. The Acid Trip: A Complete Guide to Psychedelic Music, Babylon Books.
Krippner, S. 1970. ÒThe Influence of 'Psychedelic' Experience on Contemporary Art and Music,Ó in Hallucinogenic Drug Research: Impact of Science and Society, pp. 84Ð114 (Edited by J.R. Gamage & E.L. Zerkin), STASH Press.
Krippner, S. 1985. ÒPsychedelic Drugs and Creativity,Ó Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 17(4): 235Ð245.
Krippner, S. 1990. ÒPsychedelics, Hypnosis, and Creativity,Ó in Altered States of Consciousness third edition, pp. 324Ð349 (Edited by C.T. Tart).
Luna, L.E. 1991. ÒPlant spirits in ayahuasca visions by Peruvian painter, Pablo Amaringo. An iconographic analysis,Ó Integration: Zeitschrift für Geistbewegende Pflanzen und Kultur 1: 18Ð29.
Luna, L.E. & P. Amaringo 1991. Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconography of a Peruvian Shaman, North Atlantic Books.
Masters, R.E.L. & J. Houston 1968. Psychedelic Art, Grove Press, Inc.
Poliester: Drugs/Drogas, Fall 1997, Vol. 6, No. 20, (Edited by Kurt Hollander) poliester@intranet.com.mx.
Smith, E. 1982. ÒPsychedelics and Creativity,Ó The Psychozoic Press, No. 4, 1983: 10Ð26.
Smith, E. 1983. ÒA Short Interview with Dr. Stanley Krippner,Ó The Psychozoic Press, No. 6: 46Ð54, (Edited by E. Smith).
Stafford, P.G. & B.H. Golighty 1967. LSDÑThe Problem- Solving Psychedelic, Award Books.
Vogt, D.D. & M. Montagne 1982. ÒDrug Taking and the Fine Arts,Ó The Psychozoic Press, No. 4, 1983: 6Ð9, (Edited by E. Smith).
Volk, G. 1999. ÒTransportive Visions,Ó Art in America, July, pp. 78Ð81, (Review of the art of Fred Tomaselli).
VIDEO
The Art of Tripping, a 1993 documentary on the influence of drugs on writers and artists, produced by the Jon Blair Film Company for the British Channel Four.
WEB
Albert Hofmann Foundation
http://www.hofmann.org
Their online museum has examples of the influence
of psychedelics on art. Their ÒScienceÓ section has
the full text of several papers related to creativity
and psychedelics.
Art Visionary Magazine
http://members.tripod.com/artvisionary
A relatively new Australian print magazine that
features work by visionary, fantastic, and surreal
artists.
The Electric Art Gallery
http://www.egallery.com/homepage.html
Their ÒAmazon ProjectÓ features work from the
ayahuasca-inspired artist Pablo Cesar Amaringo,
as well as other artists from his Usko-Ayar School.
Electrum Magicum
http://www.levity.com/dimitri/index.htm
The psychedelic art of Dimitri Novus.
Ernst Fuchs
http://www.arsfantastica.at
Fuchs is considered by many artists to be the ÒfatherÓ
of visionary/psychedelic art.
Fantastic Art
http://members.tripod.com/~fantasticart/index.html
An amazing collection of visionary art. While clearly
not all, nor perhaps even most, of these artists used
psychedelics, there are numerous contributions by
artists who have either publicly or privately acknowledged
the positive effect that drugs have had on their
work.
Galleria Sublimatio
http://www.sublimatrix.com
The visionary art of A. Andrew Gonzalez. Aside from
an impressive collection of his own images, Gonzalez
has a very useful links page.
H. R. Giger
http://www.giger.com
The dark, compelling visions of H.R. Giger, perhaps
most well-known for his work on the movie Alien.
The Have You Seen God Mandala Collection
http://www.haveyouseengod.com/GALLERY.htm
Contains paintings by fantastic visionary artists
including Bill Martin, Mati Klarwein, Alex Grey,
Cliff McReynolds, Tim Slowinski, Nick Hyde,
Phil Jacobson, and many more.
Martina Hoffmann
http://www.martinahoffman.com
The beautiful visionary art of Martina Hoffmann.
MKZDK 2000
http://www.mkzdk.org
Various subtle, psychedelic visions. Think
M.C. Escher dabbling with fractals and drugs.
Sacred Light Studio
http://sacredlight.to
The visionary art of Mark Henson.
The Stairwell Gallery Studio
http://www.art.freewire.co.uk/stairwell
Resident artist Cindy Mills.
Starroot Homepage
http://arts.bev.net/NRAC/visart/starroot/thumbnails.html
Images of StarrootÕs original artwork.
Huichol artifacts on pages 20 and 43 from the collection of Tom Mayers.
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