TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

  

VIEWING ALL POSTS FOR: MAY 2004

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

11:26 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Breath in, breathe out.
Main issues in my life today are editing and data management and slowing down. I am attempting to construct a coherent text of 1000 words for the report on pixelache, based on material from the insane rambling travel diary which I wrote while I was there. That is a salutory lesson in actually writing complete sentences and maybe giving a little overview to the detail and immediacy of experience which tends to be the main focus. If I am going to write this book, I will need to get some editing techniques on board damn quickly.
And slowing down when writing helps. I could even read my own handwriting this morning - a rare occurence. Realising that rushed feeling has permeated every kind of small action and daily movement and that maybe if I start slowing them down consciously, the sense of haste will abate.
It seems that both issues are intertwined; I need to filter and edit all the sounds and text and information that I keep collecting and generating, so that the good material stands out from the dross. To do this a slowing down is required, paying attention to the activity in which you are engaged each moment, focusing on it. Having a constant list of 10 other things to do next really doesn't help with anything. Except stress levels.

Anyway, today I am in Perth, staying with Nigel and Nellia. Enjoying talking for hours with Nigel, he is full of great stories and projects. I can't go into details right now, but they include the lifeboat that will be off the coast of Norway next year, the audiolab: syren a real time 1:1 scale sound map of the shipping route that will be audiuble at the helicopter pad on the ISEA ferry, his narrative about a digital personal assistant who knows your every need before you do, on a night out in helsinki. He tells me ERIC is very similar, although I should focus on the emotionally responsive computing aspect. Which is what I am most interested in. He has also been teasing me about 'when are you doing to do something else besides bridges?'. I cited Christo as an example of an artist making variations on the one idea for years - does anyone ask him: Hey, Christo, when are you going to do something other than wrap stuff??!!!?? Although he does have a point, sometimes I ask myself the same question; but then realise I am nowhere near done with bridges yet. There are so many permutations of the idea which are still to be realised, from the live linked performance to a permanent sound installation on a bridge and much much more. Also in light of my previous thoughts, it is probably good for me to keep going deeper into the one thing, and not skim the surface and move on too quickly. There are many years to explore different ideas and projects, and for now, bridges is it!!

I had an interesting conversation this morning with Ros, a contact from Donna who I talked with at the ABC in Brisbane, and now have the name of a fungus expert in Denmark, WA to contact about the treetops walk area. I have seen photos and it looks amazingly like a bridge, suspended up there in the trees. Unfortunately there is a 6 to 8 hour train and bus journey ahead of me in the morning, to get down there from Perth. But it can be enjoyable watching the country go by from the window, it gives a space to reflect and dream.... I was wishing for a day where I didn't go madly rushing around completing tasks on a schedule. That might be it!

Friday, May 14, 2004

9:40 AM
Posted by jodi rose

After his day making anzac loops, Ben walked out into the world and everything sounded loopy. I'm having that too, the 'art of noise' city symphony is in full swing. This morning the garbage men collecting recycling were making clinking music as they drove down the back lane, the thuds of the bins, brakes squeaking and cars whooshing by all sounds like music to me. Had another very productive and exciting day in the studio, with Trevor Brown playing flute, sax and repeater. He made a beautiful composition for me from the men on brooklyn bridge cables: it's in A Phrygian mode with an interpolated fourth, or so he tells me. And the Macintyre bridge is an E Major Pentatonic Scale. I love this!!! Ion also played the score I made for Golden Gate bridge using extended techniques on his cello, twisting drum sticks and cymbals into the strings - totally wild. Now I have hours of material to listen to, filter and compose with. Better get back in there......

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

6:31 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Just finished an amazing day in the studio with Ion who came in and improvised to bridges on cello. He played the experimental bridge score I made for Golden Gate bridge, using some wild prepared and extended cello techniques, with drumsticks and a cymbal threaded through the strings. It sounded remarkably like the sqeaking cables on that particular bridge - very very cool.
And when Russell left me in charge of the mixing desk, took a moment to enjoy being at this point having this incredible opportunity to explore the musical possibilities of the bridges.
Must go now and wrench Ben away from the strange waves of loopy sound he's making on the repeater, from anzac bridge samples. Then bowl of handmade noodles in chinatown with julaine and fi.

Thursday, May 6, 2004

9:54 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Reading The Age (melbourne newspaper) yesterday - I miss the quality of cultural activity and public debate there. New biennale spin-off 'the south project' exploring connections between australia and countries in the southern hemisphere, very craft oriented but still sounds intriguing.
Congratulations to Nadine and PK for work in the new 'hot' exhibition at ACCA. You girls rock!!
Walked up to cataract gorge yesterday afternoon, pestered by peacocks while eating devonshire tea, with the fabulously decadent thick king island cream, and in the evening Daniela dropped by to invite me up for pancakes. Delicious, and a very much needed break from the communal kitchen here - all my friends had left or were not working last night. More juicy conversation and lovely hanging out time with Dan and James, and her mum Kay.
Thanks to Lisa and Martin at the launceston packpackers for being totally supportive and creating a great environment here. Flying home today.

Tuesday, May 4, 2004

6:05 PM
Posted by jodi rose

what a surprise, it was a scam!!

www.fraudwatchinternational.com check out any suspicious lottery emails here.

Tuesday, May 4, 2004

5:59 PM
Posted by jodi rose

stranger and stranger

I just received an email that said you have won an international lottery of 2 million euros. Please contact our fiducial agent to claim your lump sum payout. Hilarious. Scam or no scam, it was very entertaining. Must check the Czech lottery system (.cz address) they haven't asked for a bank account yet, but no doubt that will come.
All email money aside, have had a very exciting and serendipitous two days. Trip to record the bridge yesterday afternoon was fantastic, a very high wind, lots of creaking and lovely sounds. Lisa and I leaning into the wind, logging trucks all tooted as they went past. A guy came up to talk to us, he turned out to be in charge of maintenance contractors and was happy to chat for a while. Some very cool stories about the bridge but you will have to wait for my program to hear them!! Gotta leave some mystery.
Then today went on the Tamar River cruise along to the bridge, lots of interesting local history, very nice wine and cheeses, and a lovely group of fellow travellers. Just met up with Daniela (friend of crick and nigel from melb, now living in launceston) and we had a great conversation about life, money, art, living bravely, having kids, publishing...... very exciting and fruitful for the next stage of my module planning.
Must go now and ascertain wether I really have just won 2 million euro. It would be very funny if true, but I maintain a healthy scepticism.

Monday, May 3, 2004

12:04 PM
Posted by jodi rose

icaf, qadrant mall, launceston
wandered into this cosy (ie tiny) internet cafe on my way to buy postcards of batman bridge, attracted by the coffee sacks from ecuador and brasil, and promise of plougmans lunch. Had possibly the best toasted sandwich I have every eaten - homebaked bread, subtle yet spicy relish, and homegrown tomatoes, so delicious and tasty, took me straight back to Tovey's insane farm in upstate new york. All those heirloom tomatoes, pineapple, plum, zebra - bright yellow, deep magenta, orange/red or yellow/green stripes respectively, helping out at pakatakan farmers market, or running the street stall of earth covered crates on Avenue B, lower east side while tovey delivered veggies to some of the best restaurants in new york.
Hope lunch on the cruise I'm taking tomorrow, which goes under Batman Bridge is half as good. Scored a ride out to the bridge today, with Lisa, who is working at the backpackers and has been here 4 weeks. I was in the office for a long leisurely transaction about calling the people who run another tour - to wineries, the strawberry farm and the bridge - to see if they could leave me there, or stop for longer. That old magic of serendipity working again.
Hardly seem to need Eric's services, or maybe just caling him into being conceptually was enough to reactivate my latent capabilities for finding exactly the right place and person.
Wandered into the Village Cinema yesterday at 5.05pm, just as Nick was on his way out. Hi, how you going - he was astounded, what are you doing here? I came to see you, wanna have a drink? It was very cool, we drove a little way out of town, then came back to find the only pub that was a. no irish or english themed and b. open. Great to have news from Melbourne, and stories of Nick's trip to the inaugural Vladivostock Film Festival. It sounded wild, run by the state government, the australian delegation had a police escort everywhere they went, hung out on mafia yachts and drank lots and lots of vodka.
reading article on alain de botton, whether he was bastardising philosophy by retelling it simply (the writer thought not, who has time to go and read all the old masters...). Botton mentioned that he liked Montaigne as a writer, he'll tell you what he ate for lunch, and that he's reading Plato on xyz.
The backpackers came alive yesterday evening, groups of germans cooking soup, 5 young japanese travellers finely slicing onion to go with the most enormous plate of mincemeat, noodlesoup boy all fresh and clean, and eating more noodles.
Must go off now, in search of bridge stories.

Sunday, May 2, 2004

4:22 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Launceston backpackers
Find myself in the strange netherworld of lost souls who have wandered in, dreadlocked and straggly bearded from what looks like months in the tasmanian wilderness, and are now drifting around the kitchen, lounge and tv room eating bowls of noodles and staring at the screen in dazed confusion. Have tracked down a tour that goes to the strawberry farm I wanted to visit, and some wineries and also crosses the Batman Bridge. Now just need to wait until Martin at the front desk has finished arranging a ticket to hobart in his laconic, dry and unhurried fashion for two very friendly and talkative women travelling from thailand. He is going to find out if the driver will leave me on the bridge to record for an hour or so, and pick me up again. crucial! Really must get that drivers license, it will make these expeditions so much easier. Going to do the tests online so they don't confuse me like last time when I tried to learn to drive, ohhhh 13 years ago now. I don't cope very well with not being good at things the first time.
Anyway, Happy Mayday, and it looks like a very interesting time for my european friends... isn't that a chinese curse, Donna said last week "may you live in interesting times"? indeed, I believe so.
Had been feeling so far away from all my pixelache/locative people, many of whom are now gathering in Riga, Latvia for RAM5 media workshops and no doubt suffering hangovers from last nights celebrations on LV joining the EU. ALthough it appears from all reports to be a mixed blessing.
Not sure if making sense, very strange keyboard and like I said, have gone back about 20 years in a single flight. Must go get some fresh air and see if nick feik is with the travelling iflm festival, whose flier I picked up in the homey cafe I saw from the bus on the way in from the airport, and which turned out to be just across the park from where I'm staying.

Saturday, May 1, 2004

1:26 PM
Posted by jodi rose

ABraCadabra Harris St, Ultimo
Listening to the recording of live performance at Club Gloria. Very free jazz improv, can just hear the loopy manipulations of bridge sounds that I was doing, in my state of delirium induced by exhaustion and twisted ankle. There's some really cool stuff in there, things I don't remember at all. But then, that is hardly surprising. Now moving into more abstract experimental ground. Who knew the cello and kantele could sound like that. Lasse and Jussi, you are amazing!!
Trying not to think about everything I have to do in the next few months, one thing at a time. Don't freak out now. Working on composition with Ben this evening, off to Tasmania in the morning, interview on wednesday with emeninent member of local community who arranged opening festivities for Batman Bridge, cruise on Tamar River on Tuesday, back Thursday for weekend sifting and choosing sounds for musical composition next week. (just went crazy on the drum FX on my kaoss pad.)
Then Perth, and south to Walpole, stretching the bridge metaphor to a 'treetops walk' bridge between earth and heaven kind of thing. Apparently the trees are second largest in the world, after the California... can't remember the species right now. And yes, I am going to record them too. Once a hippy child, always.....
That takes me up to mid-may, I've never been so scheduled ahead in my life before. Had a friend raincheck our coffee date this morning, and it's like, well I can fit you in again next Sunday, or in two weeks. In June taking a month to reflect, write and experiment with ways of creating a flow and synthesis between the material from all my different bridges. Coming up with some fascinating material, really will have to go back and talk to the beekeeper in Torquay again, realised he is a central character for my Geelong bridge. Millions of emails to respond to now, while listening to sounds and categorising them into musical - percussion, melodic, rhythmic and emotive, mood, style.

Saturday, May 1, 2004

1:05 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Brisbane ABC, Toowong, Brisbane

Visited the Indooroopilly Bridge yesterday, to get a feel for her and made some recordings along the walkway. What looks like cables in the photos are actually flat steel supports - the only cables are from behind the pylons over the top and then form the suspension curve along the top. Funny how an image of something gives you a completely false notion of it - the reality is far more bizarre. Many reports of people living in the bridge, and I have the phone number of those on the graceville side, which looks deserted. The Indooroopilly side I believe is inhabited by a member of the Gray family (found awebsite with family history, describing 'grandad' who was a toll collector on the bridge and now if you see washing hanging out on the line, it belongs to him) and rang the bell but he told me 'we don't do interviews.' Fair enough, it would get a bit annoying having strangers wanting to talk with you all the time about where you lived.
Wrote my first fictional narrative character based on imagining the life of the man who lives on the bridge - bears no relation to anyone, alive or dead. Sitting in the Brisbane ABC cafeteria - shockin' food, amazing view - looking out over the river and did a writing exercise for 20 minutes. Learning about self-discpline. It's never too late to start :)

This is written in my brand new weblog, courtesy of Jonathon, and if I had a digital camera or phone here, could upload pictures of it. Maybe can borrow one from Greg tomorrow - one of the organisers of small black box experimental music every month in the institute of modern art here, went along on sunday night, performances from the very serious australysis with sandy evans and jim denley improvising on sax and various horn instruments and MAX sound manipulations projected on the wall, to the silliest sound art gig ever, beanbag music from the gold coast - lounge music for people who can't afford lounges - which involved 3 people hidden behind the wall spinning vinyl in a cacophony of retro challenges, and a beanbag thrown into the mix which livened things up immensely.
Now off to interview historian Colin O'Connor, who has written many books on bridges of australia, and is now working on one about stone bridges around the world.

Loving being mobile, out and about in the world - it certainly breaks up the routine. What routine, you ask? well indeed. a railway station in helsinki one week, cathedral in barcelona the next, and a river in brisbane today. That's a life I can get used to....