T H E S E A R E T H E F I R S T W O R D S
Welcome to the test version of THESE ARE THE FIRST WORDS, a sound walk connecting personal and ecological grief that begins at the Laboratory for Other Worlds in the NYU Wet Lab on Governor’s Island. In it, the first words of long-held condolence cards are intertwined with the cryptic speech of birds to create a soundscape of disjointed grief, evoking feelings of both love and helplessness. The experience brings into sharp relief the bridge between personal and environmental tragedy.
Before you start, please scan the ground around you, and choose a small token to carry with you. It could be a pebble, a stick, a tree nut, a leaf. Hold this object, or store it in your pocket. You will need it at the end of the walk.
THEN: check your volume is turned up, and that your ear buds are working.
THEN: Make sure your browser is allowed to see your location.
For example, in SETTINGS>LOCATION>SAFARI>check on
Next, Click here, and you will be prompted to allow SonicMaps to see your location.
Allow this, and then you will see THESE ARE THE FIRST WORDS pinned to the SonicMaps map of Governor’s Island.
Start the walk. Take your time. Follow the map on your phone. You’ll see blue circles. As you walk into a circle, it will turn green, that means it is playing sounds. Keep walking.