Slate Writing

Conclusion of Investigators
The investigators concluded "The messages were not written in advance - a substitution of slates was impossible - Mr. Keeler could not have written them during the sitting, for he could not have gained access to the inside surfaces where they were found, without immediate detection."
~ From Slate Writing ~

Precipitated Spirit Paintings

~ Blossom ~
One of nineteen color plates in Precipitated Paintings.

The Knickerbocker

Ron Nagy's keen interest in spirit art has gained him the honor of being considered the United States' leading authority in the field. He also serves as a

Walking Tour guide for the Lily Dale Assembly, where many of the precipitated spirit paintings are located. Born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Ron attended Western Kentucky University and later joined the Air Force. Recently he has been a contributor to the National Spiritualist Summit. Now Ron presents us with his book on the subject of most interest to him, Precipitated Spirit Paintings.

Introduction

As a historian at Lily Dale, I have been asked many times to explain and describe how such a fine work of art just appears on the canvas. At the museum in Lily Dale, I've always welcomed questions from my visitors and guests, as well as from skeptical individuals. In this book I will explain the Ron in the museum at Lily Dale precipitation process in the easiest and most simple way possible. I'll also attempt to explain the scientific approach that was used by the early investigators of these phenomena.

No one knows exactly how, or under what circumstances, precipitated spirit paintings started, but as in most instances the first phenomena occurred with the mediums unaware of what was happening or why. The first recorded demonstration of precipitated spirit painting was in the year 1894 by the Bangs Sisters.

When I first arrived at Lily Dale, a Spiritualist community in western New York State, I had no idea what a precipitated spirit painting was or that they would entrance me. The subject consumed the majority of my spare time, through investigating and researching for details of how this phenomena could happen and the genuineness of the claims that they were spirit produced. Over two years later I was still finding more evidence, on a daily basis, indicating that precipitation phenomena took place and the mediums who produced them were sincere, dedicated Spiritualists. Their motive was to prove the continuity of life and bring hope to those people requesting portraits of their dear departed ones. Besides being beautiful works of art, the eyes of these portraits are spellbinding, as if asking to verify the earthly existence that they once experienced.

Ron Nagy

Listen to the KZUM radio interview Ron gave, by telephone, to Scott Colborn.

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007
58 minutes in length

Here is a movie of Ron bending spoons at The Knickerbocker in Linesville Pennsylvania.