"The language of birds is very ancient, and like other ancient modes of speech, very elliptical; little is said, but much is meant and understood." -- Gilbert White, qtd. by Susan Howe, The Quarry

“aeolian harps” is the second in a three-part multimodal video triptych. It was built and documented in winter 2021. Materials in an outdoor installation included sieves, nets, screens, cootie catchers, traps, and a white “hammock harp” with holes burned into the fabric.

The mockingbird is a master sampler, offering a seemingly endless mashup of birdsong. Not all of his quotes are identifiable; some speculate parts of his repertoire have been carried down from extinct songbirds. The recording that accompanies this 2nd video is a string of mockingbird quotes captured during the first installation, then slowed down to haunting effect.

More on the entire triptych can be found at https://www.derekowens.net/realms