I Aim To Storify As Many Comments As I Can From Social Media And The Media About The Planned £500m Development

psychogeography? a starting point for my community audio trail and other such stuff...

So, I am poised to go; overloaded with to do lists and notes of threads of thoughts to follow. I am hoping that along with my excel workbook, that this blog will help me develop my thoughts and research.

First priority is to order some audio equipment. Having sought advice and watched this video: I have decided that the Tascam DR 40 is the one for me to try! I was toying with the Zoom hm4, which has a good reputation, however, it is a bit pricier and I don’t need the extra features it boasts.  We shall see how it goes! As well as asking for advice about recording equipment, I have asked advice about audio trails from the GEM (Group for Education in Museums) mailing list. I can recommend doing this to anyone who is looking for similar support. I received some very helpful advice and tips of trails to try out for myself. I am sure this will be an invaluable part of my research.

I have also approached a few people tentatively about being recorded for the audio trail that I want to make of Crystal Palace Park. I have received positive responses, which is great. I am though aware of the responsibility I feel towards recording and presenting this all properly. At the moment, my main aim is to record the oral history of the park at this point in time, which was inspired but my time with my friend’s daughter O, as well as talking with one of the park rangers. I am using ‘psychogeography’ as a starting point theory-wise. I am a beginner in this field, just as I am with recording oral history and creating an audio trail, which makes me slightly anxious, yet inspired to try and develop my skills and understanding. Luckily, a few other people have said they have never heard of the term and so at least I know I am not starting on a topic that everyone already knows everything about!

I am quite a nostalgic person myself and so I begin with an awareness of this fact! I’ve a great love of all things Crystal Palace, but am by no means an expert on the area. I love all things community minded and Crystal Palace is a place that thrives on community spirit. I also begin this project with a desire to explore the variety of options open when creating an audio trail. I have inevitably many questions! Is a trail a good way to help people engage in the park? Can I make an audio trail that locals (and perhaps visitors from further afield) will want to listen to?

Victoria Park Memoryscape Trail

Victoria park - and the journey there…. some extracts of my thoughts….

I see an appropriately named pub, which lets me know I am at least in the right area…

I passed lots of green spaces on the way

An interesting looking church, of a style I don’t recall seeing before…

It’s muggy

It feels like another zone of London from where I live and I link it with Leytonstone, not too far away, where a friend lives, something about the open green spaces and the natural association I make.

A larger building - Victorian in style but higher than I am used to in Crystal Palace.

Wow Victoria (Park) has an impressive lead up - roundabout and impressive gates.

Trendy cake and coffee type cafe (which looks like it does proper food too) with a vibrant atmosphere - I enjoy a conversation I overhear by the people working there - it helps add to the happy atmosphere there! I also liked the fact a bottle of water cost £1 and not more as it often does in cafes!

The sun shines on the lake as if on time to see the sculptures and the pretty fountain in the lake looking splendid. It reminds me of what I think Crystal Palace Park (CPP)nneeds - a fountain as a reminder of Paxton and those he had installed in the park – I have not thought about before, which surprises me, but I hadn’t thought before that there are no fountains in CPP.

I see the long park roads – a cyclists paradise and my thought turns to Hyde park or even Prater in Vienna - which in the summer I quite often cycled through to work, as well as over the Danube – all in a half an hour cycle…

The audio trail is really enjoyable and I like the talk about the myths of the dogs and hearing the different opinions – leaving it open to interpretation with us.

The narrator is someone who has lived in the area of Victoria park for nine years I think it was – and this draws you in by knowing that the person clearly has a relationship with the park.

No one person speaking for a long time – it’s nicely broken up with different voices. It’s a good clear recording and the speaking is calm and nice to listen to.

It’s am amazingly surprising beautiful evening, having set out with it being much duller – it’s a beautiful route – and the canal an added bonus for me.

I felt a bit out of place to begin with - but now I feel at home as if I am walking near me in the evening - doesn’t feel like a Sunday evening in some ways to be so far away from home but it others it does with the calm atmosphere

I made some more sound recordings and have decided to do at least one on every project related trip out.

Background sounds create an atmosphere. It’s hard to differentiate some times between the sounds on the recording and the sounds in real life! I looked around when I heard the sound of the loud canal boat on the mp3 file while walking down the canal. I wondered if this kind of thing would annoy me, but I love the playfulness of this, I think it makes me more aware ….

I’m inspired to listen to some of my own favourite tracks in between listening to the trail mp3’s and this as well as making the sound recordings and listening to the trail really helps me listen to the sounds around me.

The trail map is easy to use and follow.

The trail encourages you to interact in the sense of inviting you go and get a drink and find somewhere to sit and listen to the trail.

Cafe owners talking on the trail too – it seems they are talking about what they wanted to achieve and also about the visitors they have.

I wonder what happens when trails get really out of date. They are still a memory of the point in time when they were made, but maybe something needs to change?

I did about half but not half of the distance. Will happily return to do the rest….

I like the feeling of travelling when navigating streets and journeys alone. There is some level of fear of being far from home, but also a feeling of freedom and anticipation. Sounds obvious I know, but true!

Cutty Sark to Greenwich North tube listening to the 'Dockers' memoryscape audio trailer in photos - part one

American Folk Art Museum :) today after my ferry adventures...

More About The Great North Wood

From around 2016 I think!

I have an ongoing interest in the The Great North Wood. When working on projects about The Crystal Palace I became entranced by the idea of the wood that previously covered much of the local area - It would have spanned from Camberwell to Croydon!

I recently developed two music and storytelling projects for adults with learning disabilities about the Great North Wood. The first was a weekly class for adults with learning disabilities based at West Norwood Leisure Centre about The Great North Wood, developed with a collective entitled Sound Tracks. This comprises of Keith Park, Emmie Ward and me.

The second project was in association with The London Wildlife Trust and funded by the Crystal Palace Park Fund. Coralie Oddy, Emmie Ward and I developed and delivered 10 sessions for adults with learning disabilities in Crystal Palace Park about it's history - centring on its history as part of The Great North Wood. Find out more about Sound Tracks here.

In May 2013, I jointly created a tree walk in Crystal Palace Park with a museum colleague. The walk included nature activities and storytelling about the Great North Wood for local children.

In June 2015, I jointly curated an event about The Great North Wood in Brockwell Park as part of the MADD 2015 programme. The event included folk music, blue printing and storytelling.

I will try and keep more of a track of my work and career development here as well as interesting things (to me at least) connected with museums and learning, access and digital in particular.

Think it took me a whole term (of not studying) after my degree to get to the place where I am now - trying to think more strategically about my career.... In particular about how I can develop my freelance skills as well as keeping my eyes open for more  permenant work opportunities. I'm open to a lot but also know what's important to me - to feel good in a role - and in what I can offer in a role. ... The journey continues!

Who wouldn't want to take a bus to Pleasantville? Just so long as or isn't a Sunday... I came to upper state new York instead though for the big day tomorrow :)

Brixton to Hoxton to Bunhill Fields to Soho Stories

So at the risk of falling into the English cliché of talking about the weather, I really have found the weather interesting recently. I felt relieved when the weather suddenly turned for the sunnier recently – knowing that I would be inspired and keen to wander the streets of London, with my psychogeography book and phone at the ready. However, this is how today’s journal began…in the tube… ….‘It’s cold and wet and I’ve pulled myself away from my friends and their kids to make my way to Brixton Underground on my journey to Hoxton for the Geffrye and possibly Bunhill Fields if I can get a look in – will possibly look out for some of the cafes I’ve heard mentioned in a pscyhogeography context (courtesy of a website link from a friend:

http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/Psy.html

This will be an experience of a sat afternoon away from my familiar ground – which I am always happy to do – but interesting that these pyschogeography pastures seem to be in East London – an area that has never been my home or work ground – so I at least get to experience some of the wandering experience by following these trails… So, navigating my way around to find the entrance of the Geffrye was my first task and the entrance to the garden itself was even more of a task for me! I did question my navigation skills. I found it though and was able to listen to the entire trail, which involved phoning a number and dialing a hash tag for each listening place. Very easy to follow – the audio trail was to the left og the gardens and the children’s trail to the right.

It gave me some good inspiration for questions to ask when analysing other trials as well as things to ask myself about my own – when I get there. I realized that I will need to listen again because I was too busy writing down thoughts that came to mind and taking photos as well. Which was at least possible with the nature of it being over the phone, because I could also type and photograph at the same time as listening to the loud speaker. Some of the questions inspired or hi-lighted from visiting are:

How interactive is the trail?

What kind of things does it ask you to do/think about?

Are there options for feedback, ways to be involved, a way to continue finding out more and follow on from the experience?

How many different voices are heard? Do we know who the people are?

What point of view is it giving across?

How long is each stop? How long is the trail if you do it all?

Is it sequenced?

Voices talking in everyday speech or some drama included?

Do they invite you to/or suitable to have a communal or individual experience?

Do I take away anything from the trail? An opinion or something I’ve learned?

I managed to do the Geffrye without too much rain, but as I left it started tipping it down! I had planned to walk to Bunhill fields and peer into any cafes along the way. However, I grabbed my phone and ran for the nearest bus! I was not the only person standing in doorways and consulting my phone. I found Bunhill Fields and literally grabbed a few photos as I walked through and then to Moorgate.

I recorded some sound excerpts – of the rain and of me speaking in the rain. I am not so sure that I will publish me speaking on the phone just yet, however, it was today that I realised that recording sound excerpts and even practising speaking myself for audio will be an invaluable experience. If I expect people to sound interesting on my trail, then I need to be able to do it myself. I was wondering if Bunhill fields in torrential rain is what I was destined to see - as I had just spoken to a friend on the phone who I was due to meet up with after and she said that it was pouring with rain when she went there with her book club and so she didn't go in.

I realised a little while back that I am very much restricted in my movements and audio trail listening by the amount of battery life I have. Also how much of my internet allowance I can afford to use! I also contemplated GPS and how in a way it lets you be freer sometimes in your wandering, as you know you can find yourself when you want to be found. I am though nervous of the 1984 feeling that everything and everyone will truly be tracked and monitored very soon (well we are already sort of).

I’m nearly running out of steam here and to be honest I am not even sure if anyone will be with me by this stage. This blog is surely a very personal process type thing…. Hmmm….

So my day ended with a little respite from the rain and a test of a the Soho stories app with a friend. I have to say that this was a positive experience. Very ambient and interesting characters speaking. I only listened to three stories, but have the feeling it will be easy to return and listen to more.

Okay, I had better leave it here for now. Pictures to upload and even more entries that I have not written yet…

I’ve also been working on my blurb to attract people to speak about the park!

Bye for now!!!

re displaying our #LArcheLondon oak assistant crochet crations in the @rps_london shop @runnycustard

Bit of learning.... we’re going on a bear hunt... found the ‘worksheets’ online.... kids colour their own map for the bear hunt then make little figures to move around the map as in the story :) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbOuAKs6bx/?utm_medium=tumblr