Were you able to find places and spaces where you could really listen?

Yes. Although occasionally, other students writing (crinkling papers, etc) sometimes created extra noise, it was easy to hear sounds that I had otherwise not noticed may have been around me.

Was it possible to move without making a sound?

When I tried to, yes it was possible in some areas (solid ground -- no leafs/snow, and no wind to crinkle my papers).


Were you able to differentiate between sounds that had a recognizable source and those sounds you could not place?

Yes, I could. Some sounds were more discernible than others. At times near the road, I could tell that it was a big truck that was driving by, but others I could only tell that it was some sort of vehicle. It was usually easy to tell the difference between hearing men and women talking.

Were you able to differentiate human, mechanical, and natural sounds?

Yes.

Were you able to detect subtleties, changes, or variations in the everpresent drone?

Sometimes, yes. I could detect subtleties in the lights in the parking lot. Other times I could not, like with certain vehicles on the road.

Extremely close sounds? Sounds coming from very far away?

I could usually tell far from close sounds, although in the union, it was difficult because it is so echoey.


Were you able to intervene in the urban landscape and create your own sounds by knocking on a resonant piece of metal, activating wind chimes, etc.?

I did not have that chance since we were walking most of the time.

Do you feel you have a new understanding or appreciation of the sounds of our contemporary landscape/cityscape?

Somewhat, yes. Everything seems to have a hum (lights, heaters, etc), bringing "light" to the plugged-in world we live in.

How do you think your soundwalk experience will affect your practice as a media artist, if at all?

I think that, while working with media in the future, I will be much more in touch about sounds open to use and feelings they emote.

Maps

I plan to begin my drift walking north towards 56th and Greenfield in West Milwaukee since that is the block I live on. I will roll the dice to determine at each intersection where to go next. 1-2 will be straight ahead, 3-4 will be turn right, and 5-6 will be turn left. If, however, I come to an intersection controlled by traffic lights, I will simply go in the direction that it is currently safe to walk in. I will do this until I either feel I have enough sound recordings or I am too tired to walk any further.