Q&A

1. Are there any natural bodies in the area or at least very close?

Yes. It was fortunate that I chose a park along Milwaukee River as my Drift 1 Soundwalk location. And my strategy is that once I walk into the chosen area, I would choose a path which is the closest to the river water. So I saw the Milwaukee River, the woods along the river and squirrels which are habitants in this park.

2. Are people interested in interaction with natural bodies?

I think people enjoy their interaction with natural bodies very much. Maybe it was a sunny day and was at weekend. The time and weather condition create a great environment for relaxation.

3. How do people interact with the natural bodies?

When I was recording the sounds of waterfall in the river, I saw people was cannoning, fishing and just playing in the water. I believe if it is summer, many people would swim in the river. Families went to the park for picnic. Children played football on the grass. Walking on the grass also could be seen as a kind of interaction in this situation.

4. Are there any natural sounds in the area?

Yes. Just like the answer for question 1. Because of the location that I chose, the opportunities of connection with nature increase. At first, I was interested in sounds of water since it is the most obvious natural body in the area. However, I found that squirrels, birds and even fish were making sounds, although they were in a very low volume and hard to single out.

5. Can I hear the sounds of natural body or the sounds of interaction between people and natural body very clearly?

Yes. When I just got off the bus at the beginning, it was hard to notice any natural sounds, although actually I was very close to the river (no more than 15 meters). But apparently the sound of engine could be much easier to detect compared to the sound of water flowing. Another possible reason is that sounds of natural bodies are very different from mechanical and human sounds. So if I could hear any, my mind skips them. Moving on to the park, I could feel that the engine sounds were more and more far away from me. Then, I was able to find the water following the transmission of natural sounds. When I stood in the water, it was hard to hear the engine sounds of cars. Some of the recordings about my interaction with natural bodies are in a quiet base, which means there are few mechanical sounds in it.

6. Can I single out the natural sounds or at least the sounds that human interact with the nature?

It is hard to eliminate the mechanical sounds in the base. But when I stayed far away from the road or the crowed people, I was able to either hear with my ears or record the sounds of natural bodies clearly. I could easily find a place where is quiet enough to hear my breath in woods along the riverside.

7. What do I feel when I hear the natural sounds?

I feel comfortable and fresh. The tune of natural sounds are more soft and in low volume. They free me from the stimulation of high pitch mechanical sounds.

8. Is there dramatically difference of ambient sound if the weather condition changes?

As a matter of fact, the materials for Drift 1 were collected in a single day. The weather didn’t change. But I believe the weather would greatly impact on the ambient sound in that area. For instance, if it is raining, the sounds of waterfall would be louder. I would hear the sounds of rain drops. There will be very few people in the park and human sounds will be difficult to differentiate in that condition. I hope I could explore further about that kind of influence in Drift 2.

9. Is there any architecture which is designed in a style which fits the natural environment in the area?

Yes, I think. My favorite one is that the stairs to the water. I document many lovely views including that stairs by taking pictures for them. The flowers may be planted by the staff in the park. But anyway, it looks beautiful.

10. Can I only see nature if I turn to any direction in the area?

Actually, I am not quiet sure about the answer. Basically, I was surrounded by nature in the park. But there are human traces everywhere. In the woods, I can see the plastic bags and glass bottles on the floor. In the river water, I can see the bridge. On the grass, I can see cars. Looking at the sky, I can see aircrafts. In a city, you couldn’t not expect that happens. But if there will be one place that allow you to turn to any direction and only see the nature, it would probably be a park.