Friday, March 21, 2008

Silent walk: Ampersand International
8:30pm

We begin at the gallery, turning left out the door. It is a quiet neighborhood until we get to 22nd Street, where we cross, passing a noisy café. We walk on the sidewalk along the right side of the street, going down some steps. There is a family getting out of their parked car. We cross the street and the same family does, too, going into their home. We turn right onto 22nd and take a left onto 3rd Street, where we walk along the 4-lane highway, passing the T-rail. It sounds really different here, sort of hollow and quiet except for the passing cars. There are no people. We approach 19th and take a left. My friend Stevie hangs out of a bus door and says, “hey Hope!” and we all laugh in the most quiet way possible. Priceless. We cross over highway 280 and have a really great view of the city on our right, the sounds of cars underneath us is loud and louder. At the end of the bridge we turn around and go back over the highway. Here the view is completely different, the mountains are sparkling with lights. A couple passes us – I wonder what they think? We pass a big group of young guys. At the end of the bridge we turn right. It is a totally quiet street. We turn left on the next street and walk a very dark block, then turn right onto Tennessee. My friend Stevie is standing on the corner with a map looking for the gallery. He joins us for the last stretch. We get back but the door is locked. Lori comes down asking about the walk but we’re still quiet. We walk upstairs and into the party, the sounds are incredible!

Identify
:hair weave, a big chunk has fallen out
:under awnings the sound completely changes
:no sounds of insects
:all of the clicking heels on pavement make a beautiful symphony