Surrealism is an artistic expression usually portrayed through art work or literature. Surrealism, is in my opinion, the hardest form of art to achieve. Surrealism is when the artist clears their mind of useless chatter writes, or creates art work with the subconscious mind. To entirely quiet the mind is for most, a seemingly impossible task. If one can still the mind, the pen or paintbrush does its own thing, creating free from exterior motives. If we could all do this, what do you suppose we would stumble upon? Would our subconscious minds produce similar foreign ideas? Could we find reason and answers to questions our trained minds ask? I believe gaining the knowledge we have within is a lot more beneficial than stories or myths we are told by others. Before recognized artwork, many cultures used hallucinogens to tap into the subconscious. Salvador Dali, a well known surrealist artist has a painting called “The Hallucinogenic Toreador.” Although he wasn’t on drugs, it is seemingly common in the surrealist realm. He was once quoted as saying ” I do not take drugs. I am drugs.” Native Americans in western America used peyote. In Greece, Europe and other parts of the world natural hallucinogens such as mushrooms have been administered since ancient times. They used these drugs to tap into the subconscious during rituals in attempts to evoke their inner spirit. It is undeniable that their wisdom and awe inspiring structures are still prominent and mysterious today. What did they know that we, as a society, have not figured out yet? Whatever the destination to the subconscious is it can answer questions to life, if you look at it as a metaphor. It allows us to see things we can’t fathom in our every day waking lives, and that’s a powerful thing.

-Melissa Petty