Art & Survival in the 21st Century

Award-winning artist and former combat marine declares art and the creative spirit essential to humanity's survival while offering special hope to thousands of veterans, including struggling service men and women returning from combat duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. In this unique and pertinent art book, James Menzel-Joseph offers his story of art and survival.

By the time he returned home from his duties as a combat Marine in the Korean War, his beliefs and assumptions about every aspect of life had been shattered. This sent Menzel-Joseph on a truth-seeking journey that, in the telling, transcends time and personal narrative. Art and Survival in the 21st Century offers all of us the opportunity to see that traumatic experiences can be transformed, becoming the juice for an inspired, creative and impassioned life.

Art & Survival in the 21st Century explores issues and actions related to the elevation of human consciousness, and the survival of our species within the frame-work of sustainability for all life, including that of our planet. To this end, Menzel-Joseph insists that we are all artists and that the healing that must occur for our survival will only come through each of us committing to creating our life as a work of art. In this thought-provoking book, he shares his observations and discoveries in a series of compelling and thought-provoking essays, as well as specific instruction on painting, sculpturing and the creative process, all accompanied by 150 full-color beautiful reproductions of his paintings, sculptures, sketches and machetes.

"The process of creating has the power to wake us from our dysfunctional beliefs and assumptions. It may be that peace and balance in the world will come through these creative awakenings." -James Menzel-Joseph