Visionary History

It’s no surprise that California's spiritual landscape is as diverse as its natural surroundings. Acclaimed cultural critic Erik Davis’ 45-min. slideshow, The Visionary State, weaves voice and image into a compelling narrative of religion, architecture, and consciousness, from neo-paganism to televangelism, UFO cults to austere Zen Buddhism. Davis brings together the immigrant and homegrown religious influences, part of the region's character from its earliest days, drawing connections between seemingly unlike traditions and celebrating the diversity of California's spiritual composition. Michael Rauner's evocative photographs depict the sites and structures where these traditions have taken root and flourished. PLUS Aron Ranen’s, Power　and Control: LSD　in the ‘60s, a peripatetic journey to discover the secret history of mind control using psychedelic drugs (MK-ULTRA), with appearances by Paul Krassner and others.