Shaped by the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, Sable moves through memories and dreams of dripping moss, streaming runoff cascades and piles of wood in the snow
As fantasies of home and eternity unravel, these natural images are met with simple truths
Sable is an amazing collection of songs by Portland’s finest multimedia artist Darci Phenix. Written over the course of 5 years, this work reflects the artist’s search for a sustainable version of love.
Sable is both proof of Portland’s rare and incredible music scene as well as a vote of confidence in it. It was recorded in places like an 1800s carriage house near Pdx’s ultracool, Boho, Belmont Street and in a community music studio behind a delicious donut shop (that was definitely not named Voodoo Doughnuts). It has involved more than 15 local artists who are “real players” and “real people” at the same time. Their straight job titles range from wallpaper maker to owner of an ethical dove release business. Much of the post production effort was financed by a Portland arts grant (gotta love this town) and the vinyl was artisanally pressed only 15 minutes from Phenix’s house. This kind of community support is what led Phenix to leave Team Love Records (after 7 years of collaboration) to work with a local label, Get Loud Recordings.
In celebration of her finished work, Phenix is currently combining her love of textiles and music by creating large scale (8’ x 6’ and 9’ x 7’) textile sculptures that reflect the worlds of the songs and take the shapes of butterflies. These sculptures are made primarily of recycled wool that Phenix dyes with local plants. The process of making these is called rug-tufting and is an emerging art form with roots in historic practices like punch needle and rug-hooking.
Phenix hopes that these textile pieces will give listeners a visual entry point for the songs and encourage deeper engagement with them. They offer small responses to big questions like: What would it be like to live inside of a song? And what if the imaginary worlds we create got to be as real as the one in front of us?
Phenix performed 4 songs off of the record with a string trio alongside her finished textile works at Laura Vincent Design & Gallery on March 6, 2025. The textile show will remain on display throughout the month.
Links:
Darci Phenix website
Laura Vincent Design & Gallery website
Instagram
Bandcamp
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