Phoebe Barnum was trained in the traditional studio arts. It has been clear that they were influenced by Abstract Expressionists. Initially the work focused on Painting and Drawing which has over time morphed into a wider array of medium, challenging dimensions, time, space and sound. Numerous installations have gone through various iterations based in the organic and symbolism drawn from nature, science and motifs after having done extensive research of Indigenous peoples referencing otherwise intangible truths, showing not telling.
Social Media:
PARTICIPATION
Installation
Gallery show, May 13 – June 17:
FATED
There is spontaneity in the work, pushing boundaries and finding liberation in in new materials. Having the backbone of traditional training has enhanced all of their forms of artistic expression.
Collaboration: Phoebe Barnum & Beth Elliott & Turdmeister (BET QU)
Coronoise: deflections of disquiet
VBODOBV | dEvolution: Personnel
σειρήνες
“The Greeks imagine that, ‘there were three Sirens, part virgins, part birds,’ with wings and claws. ‘One of them sang, another played the flute, the third the lyre.’ ”
(from Isidore’s Etymologiae)
“If anyone goes near them/in ignorance, and listens to their voices/they will never travel back home.”
(from Homer’s Odýsseia)
Synopsis of Process:
(Amid the wail of sirens):
B: “The COVID-19 Dance & Dodge, with folks on the street, reminds me of the courtship displays of birds.”
E: “Between this delicious death mask bread, peeking out from between Matilija poppies and banana leaves, and the funk art costumes on our dancing skins, I truly feel memento-mori-nourished and agonistically avian.”
T: “Let me digest that.”
Materials: field recordings; voice & voise; neandertal flute; bird calls (including peacock, crow, and lyrebird); etc.
Virtual Breakout During the Outbreak June 6th Livestream
Collaboration: Phoebe Barnum & Turdmeister
💧💧 (Drip Drip)
plumbing… @ the cusp of nature and culture…
sirenic psychopomp guiding rain back to the sea…
Source material (site specific to Angels Gate Cultural Center): field recordings of all pipe and tube systems, toilets w/ accompanying sonic latrinesquery, faucets, sinks, drains, etc.
“Cacophony consists of harsh often discordant sounds. These sounds are often meaningless and jumbled together. A Discordant series of harsh, unpleasant sound helps to convey disorder”.
Barnum’s piece examines a linear juxtaposition of discordant sounds.
Then:
The works of the French composer Iannis Xenakis and American born John Cage were both innovative and avant-garde. They both profoundly influenced 20th century music.
Now:
Our current cacophony consists of the barrage of talking heads, arguing, competing to be heard over the din. The sounds are exhausting often “meaningless and jumbled together”.