We are a three-person artist-scientist group organizing sensory walks by Hudson River and East River in New York City. Our intention is to investigate local knowledge and memories of the city environment. The sensory walks will be done during September.
The sensory walk consists of two parts:
1. Pick a path connected or close to a riverside in New York that is in some way significant to you. It should take about 30 minutes or less to walk.
2. Anthropologist Inkeri Aula (University of Eastern Finland) will join you for your walk via online audio call from Finland. She will ask you about your sensory observations and your memories along the path. There are no right or wrong answers. The conversation is open-ended and the intention is to trigger memories and initiate discussions. You may walk at your own pace, taking short stops at will. The conversation will be recorded anonymously for research purposes. All participants will remain anonymous and the original recordings will never be published. You may also quit participating in the research at any point. You are responsible for your own safety during the walk.
The study is done to generate material for a public sound installation organized by the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York. Fragments of your interview might be transcribed and then re-recorded by an actor. No part of the original recording will be included in the art installation. With your permission, the recording of the walk may be used for possible cultural research purposes following strict research ethics in protecting the anonymity of the walks in the future.
If you’re interested in participating in a sensory walk, please email to contact@niskanensalo.com
Inkeri Aula
Mark Niskanen
Jani-Matti Salo
The project is kindly supported by AVEK – The Promotion Center for Audiovisual Culture, Frame Contemporary Art Finland, and Panphonics.