TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

12:53 AM
Posted by jodi rose

'I'm only happy when it rains... I'm only happy when it's complicated.'

yes, finally a glaswegian drizzle has descended over sydney. centrepoint is blurred in the mist, and my soul is at peace.

although that could have something more to do with getting not one but TWO grant applications finished tonight. something about a deadline, I just can't let it go past if I've decided to apply. very satisfying.

fingers crossed.. and now the long wait to hear the lottery results.

had a wonderful time the last two afternoons with the incredibly generous michael b, who is collaborating with me on composing the surround sound global bridge symphony. when I say collaborating, he's more of a mentor really, I'm there with the raw sounds and he is taking me through the process of abstracting and manipulating them to highlight the inherent musicality. today we worked with resonance from the rouen cathedral, which is perfect for the bridge as an urban modernist sacred space. we're listening to the angels or ghosts in the steel, and secret codes passed through from another dimension... with deep rumbling subs and ethereal church bells. my kind of afternoon fun.

'don't panic; you'll find there IS no centre' and
'you can't hurry sound' are quotes of the day.

completely infatuated with the tesla talisman 308 radio. jess is working on a logo for new project and having fun with bakelite.

indulging my new favourite pastime of keeping an eye on the brooklyn bridge webcam - it's the best one I've found, updates evey three seconds or so and there's snow on the bridge today - people seem to dance along the path as the images flicker past. Brkln Brdg @ Centre St is the one to click on. The image is much closer than in the fog yesterday, those cathedral arches clear in the morning almost-sun. I could watch the traffic flow all night. there's something about transit and connection there. I really needed that, to be reminded of the genuine yearning for a deeper connection. It's somehow catapulted me into a new state of mind and being, beyond the merely personal into a higher understanding. see, that's the joy of being an artist, all your pain gets transformed into something else entirely. this process is an essential part of the synthesis.

the last time I felt that way it led to this wishlist, and we're close friends now... in fact, maybe even getting married soon - is that year up yet a??? katie was talking about having a mass wedding for all the australians in berlin - must remember to take my cream silk evening dress. mmm blueberry soup.

So, I've finally managed to coalesce this global symphony into a rockin' proposal with all kinds of different elements, from engineers and bridge data to flash player virtual conductors and play bridge vj instrument controllers, and acoustic architectural simulators. Man, I hope it all works out, we are gonna have so much fun!

mmm the video keeps breaking up and going pixellated with blue and green stripes - gorgeous. something very compelling about watching people walk across a bridge, in real time, on the other side of the world. Now, if only I could hear the cables as well..... stay tuned.

musing. when do you stop moving? I love my fellow nomadic friends so much, knowing we will always meet up, after stops in delhi or helsinki or glasgow or zagreb - you people keep me sane. the friends who stay in one place are pretty damn fine too, I'd be lost without you.

so many stories taking place under the harbour bridge the other night. a very comfortable bed set up in the palm trees near my bench, with orange blanket, pillow and a bag tucked under a rug - although I never did get to meet my neighbour, thought he may have been the wildly conducting singlet wearing guy in late forties with curly hair; but definitely not the older german couple looking for the way to the steps; or the guy who drove up in a blue mercedes benz, got out in his tracky daks and basically had a lapdance from his hot younger girlfriend on a the steps of the park outside the hyatt. classy.

for all my friends in sunshine-challenged places, you can watch the ferries go by on sydney harbour too!

opening night of hedwig and the angry inch tomorrow then nigel's exhibition on friday. book reading from colette yesterday:
blissful languid irresolute supine. surrendered again to a lazy happiness.