Blog 2: Soundwalk

For my sound walk, I did not want to go somewhere I explored in the past nor was familiar with. Therefore, I could not use my neighborhood, Times Square, and the areas surrounding Hunter. One area that I am still new to is the Meatpacking District in Lower Manhattan. I used this area because I work at the Whitney Museum of American Art, which is in the neighborhood and I have always wanted to explore the surrounding area. Most importantly, I used this area because early on I recognized that it was different from anything I have encountered before. So, I knew I would have something to write about.

Firstly, I walked across part of The High Line that is in the neighborhood. The High Line is an outdoor garden and public space bridge on the streets of Manhattan’s West Side. I expected The High Line to be tranquil, but it sounded busy. This was because the High Line is its own type of park in the sky; not a generic park. It is a bridge so I heard cars and other road sounds below. Also, since I was high in the air, I heard rushing wind all around me as well as helicopters or planes in the distance. Coming off The High Line, I walked around a few blocks in the neighborhood. I noticed that the Meatpacking District is a tourist-heavy spot or popular spot for leisure time. I could tell because I heard many people snapping pictures as well as kids complaining or laughing, and parents reprimanding. There were sound signals of street vendors playing music to get the attention of others. The district is also regularly filled with an ethnically diverse population since I heard many different accents and languages as I walked.

Lastly, I listened to my environment as I waited for the E train. I heard the endless conversations of people who were also waiting for the train. I heard the strokes of a guitar and the beats of a drum; both of a subway band. Later on when I was on the train, I listened to two young men sharing their thoughts on dating. One of them, who had an accent said, “Love doesn’t come like this[quickly], it takes time to grow.”