The Other Side: A Story of Women in Art and the Spirit World

Prolific writer, artist, composer and College of Psychic Studies member Higgie (Hilma af Klint; The Mirror and the Palette) wrote this collection of reflections and memories exploring connections between women and spirit worlds in historical and contemporary art, how those connections intertwine with nature, and what they teach about the future. Writing in the first person, Higgie takes readers on a journey through her own history of artistic inspiration. Along the way, she discusses well-known artists who were inspired by their belief in the spirit world and introduces lesser-known artists, especially women who were ignored by the art historical canon. Although modernity was believed to be cool, sleek, and rational, modernists were influenced by spiritualism, and artists had a spiritual connection to their media. For Higgie, creating art is about not painting within the lines; instead, creativity requires shaking off prejudice, superstition, and constraining ways of thinking. Thoroughly illustrated, researched, and documented, this book includes endnotes, a bibliography, and a list of illustrations.