Alex Grey, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors: COSM—The Movie

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is an art gallery in New York City showcasing the work of artist-author Alex Grey and his wife Allyson, most notably the collection known as the sacred mirrors—a series of 19 paintings and two etched mirrors, primarily of life-sized human figures directly facing the viewer, revealing the body's internal physiological systems, with some (especially at the final stage of the set) portraying a variety of religious and political figures and symbols. The object, according to Grey, who narrates this filmed tour of the place like an ecstatic guide, is to convey the link between the tangible and the spiritual, encouraging viewers to see the potential for divinity within ourselves and others. Filmmaker Nick Krasnic's documentary follows Grey through the collection as he comments on the creation and meaning of the artworks, while also discussing his background (including an early stint in a morgue, which was instrumental in later fashioning his detailed depictions of the inner workings of the body). The camera pans lovingly across the canvases, reveling in the elaborate designs and psychedelic colors, while the artist's voice, accompanied by a pulsating synthesizer score, encourages us to engage in New Age meditation. While there's a certain bizarre fascination in all this, the major audience here will likely be those who have already embraced the teachings found in Grey's books (including Sacred Mirrors and Transfigurations). DVD extras include additional scenes, an interview with Grey, and a “making-of” featurette. Optional. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)