The Storm

The Storm is a large-scale sound installation that transforms Canary Test into a resonant instrument, immersing visitors in the deep, infrasonic frequencies of Hurricane Hilary, a once-in-a-century storm that struck Southern California in 2023.

Phil Peters’ work centers on an artist-built sound system capable of reproducing frequencies as low as 10Hz. Spanning the full length of the gallery, the installation reinterprets geophonic recordings from Mt. San Gorgonio into a complete sensory experience that captures the force of Hurricane Hilary above and the tremors from the San Andreas Fault below. The piece invites visitors to stand, sit, and lie on massive infra-subs, feeling the storm’s sonic waves through physical vibrations. This shift in scale and perception destabilizes human-centered narratives, amplifying the unsettling realities of our current epoch.

Through Peters’ innovative use of sound and space, The Storm critiques institutional norms and explores how art can serve as a conduit for new ways of understanding the interconnectedness of human and environmental systems. Edited to play in varying and unpredictable cycles, the storm recording becomes a contemplation on our fundamental experience of climate change, sublimating into a metaphor for transformation, change, and loss. This work invites us to feel, listen, and reflect on the imperceptible yet powerful forces shaping our world, sparking a reconsideration of our relationship with nature and the systems we inhabit.