SNIC BARNES:
Wish Fulfillment
The Sanctuary
Philadelphia, PA
September 2023
Wish Fulfillment represents a new style and form for Snic. Using assemblage methods, the artist melds original and found objects to forge a visual language and establish a connection with a concealed society. Drawing inspiration from the relics of ancient mystery schools and systems of visual communication, such as cuneiform and hieroglyphs, Wish Fulfillment becomes a bridge between the past, present, and future, a cipher for communicating with hidden worlds through the intricate language of objects and symbols.
SNIC BARNES x JENKINS:
Axis Mundi
Philadelphia, PA
April 2023
This is the first collaboration between the artists who met in 2016. Both artists’ work can be characterized by psychedelic themes and sculptural components. Jenkin’s linear compositions are complemented by Snic’s asymmetry. It’s not that deep… or is it?
SNIC BARNES:
Rune of Curiosity
The Sanctuary
Philadelphia, PA
September 2022
Rune of Curiosity proposes how a single component from the artist’s oeuvre might appear if taken for closer examination under magnification. Snic interprets a mystery that moves between the ephemeral and the undiscovered, challenging you to navigate the thin line between reality and imagination, between what is known and what remains elusive. The observer might find themselves witnessing a fleeting dream state or a mesmerizing hallucination. Alternatively, they may perceive something that exists beyond the boundaries of our understanding, an undiscovered form, concealed from the human eye until this very moment. Rune of Curiosity continues the pursuit of the unknown, to unveil a captivating world of hidden intricacies, encouraging us to explore the mysteries that lie just beyond the surface.
SNIC BARNES:
Programmable Matter
The Sanctuary
Philadelphia, PA
2016
Programmable Matter reimagines what pipes can symbolize and represent beyond functionality to become potent artifacts in psychedelic culture. Contemporary pipe making often speaks the language of patterns to convey psychedelic concepts. This work marks the shift in Snic’s creative journey when he first attempts to transmute psychedelic realms into a three-dimensional sculptural object. Harnessing the unique properties of glass, the artist meticulously shapes it into a tool for psychedelic exploration where glass is the medium, and the mind is the vessel.
SNIC BARNES x BANJO:
Freija
Humboldt County, CA
2015
The collaborative effort behind Freija represents a rare alignment of concept and technique, where nearly forty years of combined experience in pipe making and psychedelic culture converge. It is a bridge connecting craftsmanship and the transcendental. It is a tool to be wielded by the psychonaut. As a ceremonial object, Freija represents a psychedelic amalgamation of many mythologies and religions. The baroque-style piece evokes a tapestry of symbolism and meaning, acknowledging the depth of human experience and our collective quest for spiritual enlightenment. It demonstrates the power of artistic collaboration and the limitless potential that arises when mythology, spirituality, and creativity merge. Freija is a tribute to the exploration of the unknown, an ode to human consciousness, and a visual journey that transcends the ordinary.
SNIC BARNES:
Latchkey
St. Elmo's Fire Studio
Austin, TX
2014
Originating from daydreams, much like a notebook sketch during a less-than-attentive class, Latchkey delves into the realm of random objects, associations, and interpretations. It is a journey through the surreal landscape of dream logic, where disparate ideas intertwine and a unique form of reasoning emerges, akin to the logic of a dream that exists only within the confines of sleep. Snic assembled this work from sculpted glass and an electroformed copper acrylic base. Its amorphous design could only be achieved through the printing process. Latchkey draws attention to the unexpected connections that emerge in the fertile soil of our subconscious, where ideas coalesce in unconventional and thought-provoking ways. It serves as a testament to what awaits when we allow our minds to wander into the dimensions of imagination, where the boundaries between objects and ideas blur, and the fantastical is given life. It is a celebration of the inherent creativity within all of us and an invitation to ponder the mysteries of the dreamlike logic that unfurls when we dare to break free from the constraints of wakefulness.
SNIC BARNES:
Genetically Modified Organism
Mona Studio
Philadelphia, PA
2011
Created in a period when various digital innovations became integral aspects of our civilization, Genetically Modified Organism challenges viewers to contemplate the intricate relationship between humanity, technology, and evolution. Drawing inspiration from the visionary concepts put forth by Ray Kurzweil, this piece grapples with the profound moment in which humans transcend their biological limitations and merge with machinery. As with any experimentation, there is always a possibility of failure. Genetically Modified Organism explores the nuances of this process and the unintended consequences that may arise from such bold ideas. The artwork takes an enigmatic form made of sculpted glass and found objects electroplated with copper possibly representing a device for the transference of energy or a vessel for the vaporization of consciousness. In this future, one might willingly surrender their essence to be fused with technology, traveling along a path of evolution and self-reinvention. Genetically Modified Organism envisions a future where our consciousness is no longer bound by the confines of our biology but is instead integrated into a harmonious synergy with the machines we create.
SNIC BARNES:
Artificial Flavors
The Sanctuary
Philadelphia, PA
2009
Artificial Flavors reimagines everyday objects as artifacts of an alternate reality. This mixed media sculpture made of found objects electroplated with copper and glass represents the beginning of the artist’s exploration in the transformative power of adding metal to seemingly ordinary items, turning them into artifacts with an aged and unearthed quality. At the heart of Artificial Flavors lies a subversion of the gun, a symbol of destruction. Snic takes a children's squirt gun, a playful and absurd toy, and transforms it into a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of objects and their associations. The choice to electroplate the plastic toy with copper effectively takes something known to be made from metal and reverts it back into metal, blurring the boundaries between materials and meaning. The sculpture embodies a half-process, a dynamic state, with an ambiguous element: black glass emerges from the gun, creating a sense of mystery and uncertainty about what it is actually shooting out. This ambiguity invites viewers to question their preconceived notions and expectations, encouraging them to question the familiar.
