Gary James Joynes: Sonic Suns

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Gary James Joynes, “Sonic Suns No.2,” 2023

chromaluxe color print, 20" diameter and 40" diameter, edition ef 3 each size (courtesy of the gallery)

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 12, 7 - 9 pm

Sonic Suns is a visual-sound installation and photography exhibition allowing audiences to experience the profound beauty of the unseen. It invites the active process of listening to, looking at, and feeling sound; linking sensoria to allow for immersion in a whole-body experience. It encourages a meditative state in viewers - to have them interrupt busy-ness for a prolonged moment of being-ness.

Gary James Joynes has been exploring the nature of sound through recording, performance, photography and video works for several decades. In his 2016 Foote Prize winning installation (Broken Sound, 2015) he explored the absence of sound as a physical state representing pauses in our lives and in the cyclical nature of life. As an important feature of Broken Sound, Joynes created his first visual field of artificial crepuscular rays. Crepuscular rays or “god rays” are naturally occurring sunbeams that originate when incoming light is partially obstructed by clouds or a canopy of trees in the forest, revealing beautiful shards of light through clouds or mist.

As Joynes witnessed these slowly morphing rays of intersecting bands of light he was emotionally moved by his floating light sculpture hovering above and was struck with the question… “What if these rays could be an actual visualization of sound wave energy and movement through light?” In that moment of observation and reflection this encounter marked the genesis for the creation of Sonic Suns.

“If you knew the magnificence of 3, 6 and 9, you would have a key to the universe.”

– Nicola Tesla

Joynes' fascination with esoteric science and the groundbreaking work of the visionary inventor Nicola Tesla added an additional layer of depth to Sonic Suns. Tesla's exploration of sound, vibration, and frequency, especially his discovery of 6 harmonious tones with profound healing potential, became another source of inspiration. When played simultaneously Tesla claimed these 6 tones have the ability to open and cleanse the human pineal gland. Also known as the third eye, this area of the human brain is believed by many faiths to hold the key to spiritual enlightenment. Tesla named this series the Toroidal Harmonic Energy Activation Resonance Circle (THEARC) and it consists of the following 6 frequencies: 630 Hz (6+3=9), 540 Hz (5+4=9), 450 Hz (4+5=9), 360 Hz (3+6=9), 270 Hz (2+7=9), 180 Hz (1+8=9).

Tesla was obsessed with these numbers. He wanted the world to know the significance of the numbers 3 and 6 but especially 9. Highest of the single digits, the number 9 symbolizes universal spiritual laws that guide our spirituality as human beings. In many cultures it signifies love, faith, Karma and spiritual awakening. Curious about all of these possibilities Joynes has spent the last few years immersing himself into a deep listening practice within Tesla’s harmonic series. Experimenting with these frequencies has convinced him something very special happens when engaging with them. Through Sonic Suns he invites us to join him into a visual-sound journey of exploration inside of these 6 magical tones.

Artist Talk: Thursday, October 26 At 7 pm