The Occult Harry Smith: The Magical and Alchemical Work of an Artist of the Extremes

(Paperback)

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Explores in depth the occult and mystical side of Smithhis heaven and earth magicfocusing on how his varied artistic efforts were part of a comprehensive magical and alchemical practice

Includes unpublished photos of and letters from Smith, rare interviews, one of his unpublished texts, and essays by scholars and friends

Harry Smith (19231991) was a legendary twentieth-century artist, filmmaker, painter, anthropologist, ethnomusicologist, and archivist. Especially well known for his Anthology of American Folk Music, innovative abstract films, and extraordinary collection of paper airplanes now housed at the Getty Research Institute, Smith also had a deep esoteric and mystical side, with experimentation in magic, Tarot, Qabalah, and other occult practices. Like the alchemists, Smiths life mission was to create a unified work from disparate elements, a synthesis of correspondences between seemingly unrelated topics, from music, string figures, and Seminole patterns to the relationship between sound and film imagery.

Presenting the most diverse collection of writings by and about Smith, this volume explores the far-ranging esoteric themes that run throughout Smiths art and career. It includes never-before-seen photos, rare interviews, personal letters, and an unpublished text by Harry Smith, The 96 Apparitions of the 96 Alchemical Formulae (1 to 36), as well as personal reminiscences from Smiths friends and former students.

With growing scholarly interest and a substantial show in 202324 at New Yorks Whitney Museum of American Art, Smiths groundbreaking mystical wisdom and heaven and earth magic are finally receiving the recognition they deserve, cementing Smiths reputation as an artist of the extremes who rose above ordinary existence to make a profound contribution to art, music, film, and modern alchemy.

Author Bio

Harry Smith (19231991) was a filmmaker, painter, anthropologist, alchemist, and artist of the twentieth century. Peter Valente is a writer, editor, translator, and filmmaker. He was born in Salerno, Italy, in 1970 and grew up in New Jersey. The author of 12 books and the translator of several influential works, including Grard de Nervals The Illuminated, he lives in North Carolina.