Brian Cotnoir's Book of The Dead : "In A Dark Wood: An Alchemical Poem in Thirteen Images"
Found Elements
Two postcards came in the mail for me this past Friday, just before my conversation with my friend Brian. We will usually take the time to catch up, root for each other, laugh together and have real talk moments.
I really do think that New Yorkers and Baltimoreans tend to make great friends especially when they are artists. They have this way of bringing this realness to their lives, bonds and craft that is simply unmatched.
Call me biased, I can live with that.
We were discussing an art show that was being held for his work in a small venue in Brooklyn. And in describing his work he says with a boyish pride that was so endearing:
“I say it’s worth seeing, because what it is, is a Book of the Dead.
It’s a book I created, and it has its own little viewing tent.
No, it’s a great exhibit, as well as there’s two other kind of pinhole text collages I’ve done.
And then a couple little odd and end pieces.
And it’s work I’m actually, rather proud of, I would have to say.”
Brian is one of those rare people who can in the words of my late uncle,
See another’s greatness.
In my honest opinion, if we had more teachers like him in schools, the world would have a hell of a lot more critical and free thinkers and we all would know Latin!
Something he has always said when describing his path that always stuck with me was,
I didn’t go to school to get a job.
He has a degree in Chemistry with Minor in Physics. He took the time before attending university to work at Watkins so that he could study Alchemical Practices, and then went so as to get the laboratory training he needed for his practice.
I think we often mistake training for learning and education. And we wonder why we are so devoid of curiosity and experimentation. Both means that we will have and will fail, make mistakes, fall on our faces and look stupid, but this is a part of growth. This is a part of the glory! We hold ourselves back from so many experiences because of this need to keep up appearances, cancel culture did not help this at all!
Now, don’t get me wrong, people do need to be held accountable for evils and crimes of cruelty, senselessness violence, and exploitation. But let’s not act like running with whatever version of pitchforks suit the time to bang on the proverbial door of someone we disagree with is not its own form of cruelty. It absolutely is!
This is also why critical thinking, free thinking, curiosity and experimentation are all important. We are all only ever trying to figure shit out, some of us just make it look good enough to call it expertise while those who are in earnest have learned and continue to learn how to do it well enough to become an ever growing, student and expert with student holding greater precedence. He embodies the latter being both an earnest and faithful student as well as a being a respected expert in his craft.
During one of our real talk moments, just before I mustered up the courage to finally pursue zine making, he said something to me that I always tell myself every day, and especially during times when imposter syndrome creeps in (which is more often than you might think):
We are nobodies, but we are somebody because we are doing the work…
It circles back to my little tangent on learning and working in earnest. It needs to be said, and understood by any artist or maker than comes across this:
Art work is real fucking work!
Art work is an Alchemical, Mystical and Magickal Practice!
Art work is earnest work so long as you approach it in earnest, respect it and know that you have it all.
You have to know it, not just believe it.
There is evidence of it all around you
(this is it right here).
You really do have it all.
You have everything you need.
Don’t let difficult circumstances or people tell you otherwise.
Don’t let the evils of the world tell you otherwise.
Don’t let your vices tell you otherwise.
Don’t let the voices in your head tell you otherwise.
You have to strive.
You have to try.
You have to let yourself fall on your face, pick yourself up and try again for as long as it takes.
This is the work!
This is the will of the Artist, the Alchemist, the Magus.
This is what I have learned on my path, practicing my craft, through my encounters and through my friendship with Brian.
To me, a true alchemist, a true artist, a true magus through our interactions with them will bring us into what Plato calls remembrance they will tell us what he had told me when sitting on a park bench in the lower eastside on hot, swampy summer day:
This is all you.
Because it is. It really is.
I would really recommend looking into Brian and his work if you are not familiar with him already. He can be found at Khepri Press.
Sign up for his Newsetter!
Also be sure to check out his art show “In A Dark Wood: An Alchemical Poem in Thirteen Images” that goes on From May 3 - May 30, 2026 and this gives you an excuse to reach out to him and ask him for the details! :3
Just try to keep it kind of short as he doesn’t spend a lot of time in front of screens (something I could probably stand to do).
Brian Cotnoir
Is an Alchemist, Artist and Award Winning Film Maker. He is peaceful disrupter, a dear friend and corrupter of the youth (in the best way)!
He is truly a gift to this world.
We are so lucky to have him here!
Thank you Brian!
We love you!
