Beyond Lead into Gold Alchemy, Art and Applications for Creative Projects

The alchemists used exquisitely rendered emblems, diagrams and illustrations to both explain and hide their experiments and experiences. In turn, many artists have been influenced by both alchemical theory and illustration, including Dürer; Jung, in both his artwork and his writing; and the Surrealists, including Breton, Ernst and Varo. In this six-hour, two-evening class, we will trace the history of alchemy, discuss the goals and aspirations of the alchemists, review the methods of the alchemical opus, investigate Jung’s work on alchemy and identify ways that you can use alchemical influences in your own art.