Soul Tones: A Visual Meditative Experience
film by Courtney Sell | music by Kristin Palombo
This exhibit ran June 4-11th, 2019
Artist Statement
Upon my retreat from conventional narrative filmmaking in 2017, my creative and spiritual growth began to emerge as one. Meditation and trance work all became extremely important for me, and with all of that, my new body of films was born. My daily meditative practices allowed the creative floodgates to open, bringing a complete sense of inner joy. Upon the creation of many of these metaphysical films, I was unaware as to what they meant but went about the execution of each one as a form of meditation itself. After all, everything and anything can be meditation if it brings a sense of joy to our soul. I was so entranced by these recent visual developments that hours and days could pass without me even realizing. Some of these experimental films hold more emotional impact than any conventional film I’ve ever made. Now I know why. However, I will always leave the meaning of these works up to viewers with the hope that they will find the same sense of joy, love, and excitement that I experienced while making them.
Soul Tones was one of the first metaphysical films I made after moving to Los Angeles. I discovered the Philosophical Research Society at exactly the right time in my journey and eagerly began collaborating with some of the other artists who also consider it their home away from home. While many of my earlier films were developed and executed with inspiration from books by Manly P. Hall, Aleister Crowley, and Hermann Hesse, among many others whom I have been reading since I was a curious sixteen-year-old, Soul Tones was one of the first films where I really had no preconceived idea as to what it would be about. I had recorded Kristin playing her sound bowls for a separate short I was making months prior and upon editing said film, was so completely captivated and hypnotized by the beauty of the notes, I knew I had to use them for something else. The result became a trance film that works to expose the viewer to other dimensions and energies that surround us in every moment of our lives that we may otherwise ignore. Essentially, the film became a document of loving awareness and positive emotion. With this piece, I hope that the observer will be able to obtain, even if just for a split second, a moment of inner peace and inspiration. Like all of the films I now make in this new stage of my career, I hope the love, passion, and absolute heart I put into the creation will resonate with the viewer and that glorious positive energy will be experienced. As we commonly say to one another “I’m sending my love." This is my way of sending love to the viewer. —Courtney Sell
Artist Statement
Upon my retreat from conventional narrative filmmaking in 2017, my creative and spiritual growth began to emerge as one. Meditation and trance work all became extremely important for me, and with all of that, my new body of films was born. My daily meditative practices allowed the creative floodgates to open, bringing a complete sense of inner joy. Upon the creation of many of these metaphysical films, I was unaware as to what they meant but went about the execution of each one as a form of meditation itself. After all, everything and anything can be meditation if it brings a sense of joy to our soul. I was so entranced by these recent visual developments that hours and days could pass without me even realizing. Some of these experimental films hold more emotional impact than any conventional film I’ve ever made. Now I know why. However, I will always leave the meaning of these works up to viewers with the hope that they will find the same sense of joy, love, and excitement that I experienced while making them.
Soul Tones was one of the first metaphysical films I made after moving to Los Angeles. I discovered the Philosophical Research Society at exactly the right time in my journey and eagerly began collaborating with some of the other artists who also consider it their home away from home. While many of my earlier films were developed and executed with inspiration from books by Manly P. Hall, Aleister Crowley, and Hermann Hesse, among many others whom I have been reading since I was a curious sixteen-year-old, Soul Tones was one of the first films where I really had no preconceived idea as to what it would be about. I had recorded Kristin playing her sound bowls for a separate short I was making months prior and upon editing said film, was so completely captivated and hypnotized by the beauty of the notes, I knew I had to use them for something else. The result became a trance film that works to expose the viewer to other dimensions and energies that surround us in every moment of our lives that we may otherwise ignore. Essentially, the film became a document of loving awareness and positive emotion. With this piece, I hope that the observer will be able to obtain, even if just for a split second, a moment of inner peace and inspiration. Like all of the films I now make in this new stage of my career, I hope the love, passion, and absolute heart I put into the creation will resonate with the viewer and that glorious positive energy will be experienced. As we commonly say to one another “I’m sending my love." This is my way of sending love to the viewer. —Courtney Sell
