David Blum Paintings Celebration
November 2024

Madonna of the Grotto (1995)

In spring of 2024 Sarah Blum donated a sequence of 43 oil-based crayon paintings—her late husband David Blum’s psychological legacy—to ISAPZURICH. This illuminating series is this autodidactic painter’s self-explorative journey, his individuation process, as he grapples with cancer. Through his dreams he meets his inner guide, a Wise Old Dog, his own inner wisdom, that supports and comforts him on his ultimate transformative journey.

The Golden Eagle (1987)

In David’s own words,
“At a time of crisis or challenging life transition, any powerful image that arises spontaneously from within oneself—in whatever from—brings with it a creative potential”

“…I am guided by The Wise Old Dog towards a full understanding and inner acceptance of the healing process whose goal, in the end, is not confined to getting well physically.”

David Blum (1935–1998) was an extraordinary conductor and writer on classical music. He founded the Esterhazy Orchestra in New York, giving groundbreaking tours throughout the U.S. and Canada. Here a quote by his friend, Yo-Yo Ma:

“The unique painting David Blum created throughout his life, and increasing during his battle with cancer, are a window into his spiritual journey. The Wise Old Dog, who came to David in dreams, was his guide and comfort. Through these images and David’s insightful commentary, we are reminded of the resilience of the human spirit, the power of art to help us understand life, and the role creativity can play in healing and transcendence.”

The Sacred Marriage (1997)

To receive David’s psychological legacy is a great treasure and enriches the young, yet growing collection of pictures at ISAPZURICH. The pictures have undergone a journey themselves. With devotion they were bequeathed, with care packed into bins and carefully loaded into a climate-controlled truck that made its way to a Boston storage, where the Collection was then repacked into crates before taking flight for Zurich to find a new home in the ISAP Library.

Read and hear more about this remarkable journey:

Blum, David. (2020). Appointment with the Wise Old Dog: A Bridge to the Transformative Power of Dreams”, Asheville, N.C. Chiron Publications.

Blum, David. (1998). “Appointment with the Wise Old Dog: Dream Images in a Time of Crisis”; https://vimeo.com/420851794

To learn more about the ISAP Picture Collection please click here

15 November 2024
15:00–19:00

Stampfenbachstr. 115, 8006 Zürich
Tram 11 or 14 to Beckenhof

General Entry: CHF 40
Students & Over 65 on-site: CHF 30 (official proof of student status or age must be shown on-site for discount)
Refugees attending on-site: CHF 10 (proof of official refugee status must be shown on-site for discount)

Gratis for ISAP Students and Analysts

ISAP students receive credit for attending the lectures, which is course 04 60.

For questions please contact [email protected]

Peter Ammann, Dr. phil.
Sarah Blum (video)
Deborah Egger, MSW
Lucienne Marguerat, lic. phil.
Kathrin Schaeppi, MS, MFA
Murray Stein, PhD
Penelope Yungblut, MA