The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak / Electronic Masks / Clowns

This is a reel consisting of Barbara Sykes' works "By the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak" (1978), "Electronic Masks" (1978), and "Clowns" made with the Sandin Image Processor.

00:00Copy video clip URL Tape begins with black. Slightly unstable video. 

00:24Copy video clip URL “The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak” begins. Subtle tones and opaque swirling purple shapes fade in slowly. Image is intermittently unstable. The tones transition into unnerving ambient noises as the image gradually becomes more varied in color and shape. Abstract forms flow together as the color saturation and vibrance change gradually. Over time, the intensity of both the music accompaniment and the shifting shape grows until abruptly fading out. 

07:16Copy video clip URL Cut to black. 

07:27Copy video clip URL “Electronic Masks” begins. Swirling and fantastical woodwind music layered with drumming and vocalizing accompanies a slowly evolving collage of abstract, colorful, and amorphous masks onscreen. The music becomes gradually more upbeat and tribal as the masks begin to cut back and forth and respond to the music. 

12:23Copy video clip URL Cut to black. 

12:33Copy video clip URL “Clowns” begins. Four abstract figures move and change proportion and distribution onscreen to playful and carnival-like electronic music.

13:13Copy video clip URL Cut to black.

14:01Copy video clip URL Tape ends.