Strings

March 26, 2020 - Unemployment, First Astoria Desire Path

Notes:

9:57am to 1:04pm
7.29 miles
20,771 steps
Walks, a blur of anxiety and fear

March 27, 2020 - Losing Track of the Pandemic Days

Notes:

11:20am to 2:46pm
7.83 miles
21,284 steps
dropped off the work computer.
The park was busy
The plague has zapped my creativity
bright sunny day, losing track of the pandemic days, sore jaw,
Spotify liked songs on shuffle
red flags and long nights
dropped off notebook at ups store
clerk coughed into shoulder

March 29, 2020 - Rainy Morning

Notes:

9:13am to 10:06pm
2.49 miles
7,374 steps
The guy walking past the mom with a stroller and saying ‘that kid needs a mask.’
It was quiet.
I bought beer at the store.

April 1, 2020 - Pink Blossoms Over the East River

Notes:

10:28am to 2:10pm
8.65 miles
23,364 steps
didn’t know where I was going, just like the previous days.
The sidewalks were mostly empty, except for the few people catching buses and running errands.
90 percent of the people were in masks.
the feeling that I was going to be stopped by the police and asked why I was out walking.
I would tell them that I was in a daze and got off course, but was heading home.

April 4, 2020 - The Sun Started Flooding Into the Apartment Around Noon

Notes:

12:55pm to 3:04pm
6.15 miles
13,516 steps
shaved head and beard
Morning twitter action was great. Feeling good. Then reminded about the horror
The live wire. This is the solution.

April 6, 2020 - Masks

Notes:

1:09pm to 2:35pm
4.17 miles
8,865 steps

April 7, 2020 - Elmhurst Epicenter

Notes:

11:14am to 1:47pm
7.68 miles
16,147 steps
brought the digital camera
knew it was the day to walk back to Elmhurst
feel guilty about it...but it’s also a thrill.
didn’t know what to photograph so I just went with my instincts.

April 12, 2020 - The Philosophy of Martin Heidegger

Notes:

11:38am to 2:16pm
7.1 miles
15,240 steps
“The poems composed by every great poet are attempts to put into words one single poem. Their greatness depends on the extent to which they have entrusted themselves to this unique poem, for it is this which enables them to maintain the purity of their poetic utterances by keeping them within the ambit of their single origin.”
left the book behind on a pedestrian bridge.
the wind knocked the book over while I was filming it

April 14, 2020 - The Last Days of Socrates

Notes:

9:14am to 12:35pm
8.36 miles
18,129 steps
“I want you to think of my adventures as a sort of pilgrimage undertaken to establish the truth of the oracle once for all.”
Walk along the Skyway path to leave the Socrates book.
Left it on a rock near the path overlooking La Guardia.
birds chirping, traffic sounds ahead, no people, shoulder pain, two walkers in masks

April 16, 2020 - Observing the Lines to Get Into the Grocery Stores

Notes:

12:36pm to 3:10pm
back to the daily turmeric shot routine to control inflammation
loop walk south toward Maspeth and Ridgewood, familiar terrain.
walked east toward the Borden Ave pedestrian bridge.
If there are no rules, then we’re free to just make pictures
the problem is that if I make them, then I need to process them and figure out how to use them.
Struggling with maps
a line 5-7 deep at the Korean market the last few times I’ve passed.
want to buy some kimchi pancakes but it seems indulgent at this point.
need fresh vegetables

April 17, 2020 - One Walk, One Piece

Notes:

11:25am to 1:47pm
6.56 miles
16,567 steps
Greenpoint Ave route without a clear idea of the destination
arrived at Borden Ave, decided to veer into the industrial area of Sunnyside and into LIC.
debated going all the way to Hunters Point Park South but wasn’t feeling it
finding simplicity in art
Ideas no execution; must execute, one walk, one day, one piece
The diary, the journal, On Kawara

April 18, 2020 - Small Raindrops on the Glasses

Notes:

3:35pm to 5:40pm
4.87 miles
10,739 steps
Gloomy day. Late afternoon walk.
Day walk idea fully formed; the format, the canvas.
Connection and strings; an issue for another day.
Always a few key ideas; synthesize to form a new process
No work in chaos, need parameters.

April 19, 2020 - First Walk into Manhattan in a Month

Notes:

11:01am to 4:24pm
12.97 miles
26,469 steps
Plan to walk a loop through pandemic Manhattan
Apple with almond butter
Matcha green tea
crowded crossing the Queenboro bridge
empty streets on 59th St felt like satire
found a tree on 53rd and Park. The light was amazing.
No, I wanted to go to Central Park, so I veered back north and walked up 6th Ave and into the park.
plenty of people out, mostly New Yorkers I suspect. No tourists right now.
red bird, squirrel leaping trees to get to kid with crackers
stare down with the squirrel at 12:59pm
walked over Bow Bridge, destination 81st.
Walking to the Pinenum was too far.
The epic across Ward’s Island Bridge was too far.
been over a month since a train ride as well. One month. It’s a long time in pandemic time.
walked around the tree thinking about empty streets
the walk is magic
i wonder what it looks like on a normal day
the facetime friends, walking the same route, 3.3 miles today
up the ramble, the sax player asks for a tip

April 21, 2020 - Every Walk is a Concept

Notes:

7:27am to 9:49am
4.83 miles
13.849 steps
Wake up, do the first thing you love: early morning walk,
integrate assignments into the daily walks.
Keep it simple. Beginner's mind. Choose a color. Plants in windows. The sounds. Food. It’s endless.
the only path, interconnectedness.
Art, wellness, history, philosophy, walking, technology
every walk is a concept

April 22, 2020 - Horror Show on the Bridge, Car Noise, Maddening Mechanical Annihilation

Notes:

9:12am to 12:014pm
7.19 miles
15,633 steps
Almond yogurt with raspberries and blueberries, chia seeds
the spot on the bench where i left my camera once
thinking On Kawara.
made another video this morning
Guardian of the Dead Tree

April 23, 2020 - Felt Good Back on the Infrastructure

Notes:

1:09pm to 3:37pm
5.41 miles
11,856 steps
Stick to the daily walk plan, find a theme
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
Matcha green tea
kimchi
walk in the morning; radar indicated rain, waited until afternoon.
Keep it simple, complexity at some point.
walked to the Queensbridge Greenway, photographed a desire path.
thinking about the Maspeth project, 50 frames, plot them out before I walk. Use all 50 on one walk around the perimeter

April 24, 2020 - Terrible Day to Walk

Notes:

5:07pm to 6:58pm
4.3 miles
9,440 steps
Rain all day, gloomy mood, simple day walk
Matcha green tea
Kimchi
Sluggish

April 25, 2020 - Walking the Tracks Flawlessly

Notes:

12:27pm to 3:57pm
7.31 miles
15,889 steps
Sunny, planned a Hunters Point South Park walk
Stir fry
Matcha green tea
walked the rail and looped back home.

April 27, 2020 - Downed Tree in Landing Lights

Notes:

2:52pm to 5:24pm
6.35 miles
13,744 steps
Gloomy day
tomorrow is the big one to Forest Park
Spinach, apple, strawberry, walnut, avocado, cucumber salad with chips and salsa
Matcha green tea
Downed tree in landing lights
kid screaming from the window, trumpet practice across the street
What’s the point. But we walk anyway.
plenty of photos for a lifetime.

April 28, 2020 - Author Portrait in Forest Park

Notes:

11:49am to 4:24pm
14.63 miles
32,985 steps
Macaroni and cheese with broccoli and spinach
Matcha green tea
Cabbage
turned around after 15 minutes, realized didn’t have health insurance card.
dreams of love in santa fe
don’t think about the future
smells like teen spirit from the kids looking for sue
saw a cardinal
why did I swat the bumble bee?
Magali to the portrait artist
walk was a breeze, almost floating.
answer is in the Kodachrome

April 30, 2020 - After the Rain, Went for a Walk

Notes:

12:05pm to 2:00pm
4.93 miles
10,789 steps
hangover day
conversation with Alex Wolfe pedestrian
Apple with almond butter
Matcha tea
a few photos of puddles, and the usual garbage.
not motivated to do anything
Destiny. meditation. Calmness.

May 1, 2020 - Some People Getting Too Close, In a Daze. 1:33pm.

Notes:

12:50pm to 2:14pm
3.27 miles
6,981 steps
Rain in the morning, sun broke through in the afternoon, made the usual neighborhood walk.
Multigrain toast with jam and butter
Matcha tea
losing my step but mostly due to the weather.
Today the photos were made on one block. That’s it. Simple. Nothing more.
38th & 47th Av
a car accident, fire trucks, EMS, a few residents observing.

May 2, 2020 - Reverse This Energy. It’s Going to Be a Downward Spiral.

Notes:

1:25pm to 4:10pm
5.9 miles
19,991 steps
considering the Maspeth walk after last night’s research
woke up, didn’t feel ready.
thinking about a nice epic walk, perhaps in Manhattan.
pushed the power button on the Mac
made some breakfast, was feeling good.
20 minutes later, the Mac wasn’t on. It wouldn’t turn on. It was dark.
Almond yogurt with blueberries and raspberries
Matcha tea
Despair over the broken MacBook
first principles of walking
made it to Hunter’s Point South park. It was crowded. Felt normal.
walking past lines at the craft breweries.
Life is not going to stop in New York. It can’t be contained.
It’s now the rich navigating the blight, holding out hope I suppose.

May 3, 2020 - No Data Other Than the Photos and Map

Notes:

1:22pm to 5:25pm
4 miles
9,108 steps

May 5, 2020 - The City Will Never Be the Same

Notes:

9:41am to 3:41pm
14.11 miles
25,551 steps
iPhone sleeping in the kitchen
How can I help?
Almond yogurt with blueberries and raspberries
Matcha tea
Amazing burn into Manhattan.
Manhattan was quiet. It was strange.
The city will never be the same.
I’m almost forgetting what life was like before.
Walked into Central Park, took a bench, and overheard an argument after a guy started yelling at someone about feeding the pigeons, then the other dude got confrontational and told him not to talk to his wife. The informant called the police but it took too much effort so he gave up. 10 minutes later two police cars showed up. I moved on. Found another bench before walking back to the Queensboro bridge.

May 6, 2020 - Standing on a Tree Stump, Sirens, Rain Drops, 11:26am

Notes:

10:46am to 12:47pm
3.72 miles
8,613 steps
Cloudy day. Rain on the way
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
Turmeric lemon orange juice
Matcha tea
Just what it is. Pictures from the walks.

May 7, 2020 - Computer Repair Day

Notes:

10:12am to 3:26pm
10.37 miles
20,579 steps
Walk to Mikey’s
Whole Wheat toast with avocado and kimchi
Whole Wheat toast with jam
Matcha tea
Next up a park. One park. But that takes longer.
Drifting over the bridge into Brooklyn.
find a job in NYC.
walking, green spaces, not necessarily outdoors, but lay the framework
the transition into the the hiking, and slower life.
The bad news. Bloated battery. 5 weeks to diagnose.
The walk back along the river, so many people out, absolutely perfect day.
covid is hunting me.
I have to stay out of the factories.

May 9, 2020 - The Outline of a Walk, The Gesture of a Memory

Notes:

9:21am to 1:09pm
11.75 miles
27,417 steps
Matcha tea
absence of data
conduit for the data in the moment
photography is the burden
transformational walks
art is the consciousness of art and then the gesture
a memory of costco park with murder
three red benches in socrates sculpture park, facing costco - fisherwoman standing
The work was in the field today.
The walk today illuminated the power for first principles thinking and repetition.
The same walks over and over. It works.

May 10, 2020 - Enthusiasm is the Path Out of This Mess

Notes:

8:58am to 11:45am
9.15 miles
19,064 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
Toast with butter
slight pain in the back of my knees.
I think I need a day off.
30 miles the last four days.
don’t need an epic for a few days.
Share, inspire, stumble, make mistakes.
Stay focused. Get the computer back.

May 11, 2020 - You Might Consider The Haab

Notes:

2:27pm to 4:25pm
5.28 miles
12,079 steps
No planning. Expected rain.
Matcha tea
Noodles with vegetables, kimchi dumpling and fish balls
if i were to give you script for this walk, would you accept it?
you might consider the haab
three tree stumps
marketing process and philosophy
Intense focus on the walk.
Script the short walks. Details.
The notes process is crucial.
The cameras are not necessary. Keep reducing.
The books really need to go too.

May 12, 2020 - Hunters Point Park South Variation #5

Notes:

7:39am to 10:17am
8.21 miles
17,248 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
don’t fear stating the obvious
smashed car borden n vernon
walk sign - end performance 1023am
felt present, in the moment
The performance was flawless
shadow walk to the benches.
The rail walk
The Trump countdown clock too
walking the dots

May 13, 2020 - Gnarly Desire Path Intersection

Notes:

8:52am to 3:01pm
12.9 miles
27,409 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
SaunterBe
the tip of the spear had to be art
determined to have a long, blissful walk.
the flow to be so intense. On the bridge I started to feel it.
The spiritual generous being.
tough to even remember specific moments in the park.
It’s such a joy to just roam around.
The Ramble was amazing this morning
Shakespeare Garden and knew I’d been there before, the day I was on shrooms.
Was the Frog King there today, pushing to solve the problem?
a gnarly desire path intersection. In the shadow of the obelisk.
made a photo on the portra.
Walking back over the bridge was painful.
Head down, step by step. I knew it was a good walk though.

May 14, 2020 - A Trip to An Old Friend, The Queens Giant

Notes:

10:22am to 3:20pm
16.08 miles
36,247 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
guy in bike with say no to tyranny take off your mask sign
walking the divide
the bad times are ahead but for now, living in bliss.
walked out of the apartment planning on going to Flushing Meadows; arrived at the 61st Station and suddenly got the urge to get on the LIRR.
The destination would be Alley Pond Park.
know the route well, walked it twice, April 14, 2019 and November 10, 2019.
walk to the Joseph B. Hellmann Overlook park.
found the entrance to Alley Pond quickly, off down the trail. It was a bit muddy in parts
Next up was the trip to an old friend, the Queens Giant.
entered the trails heading south for a nice forest bathing walk.
The Vanderbuilt Motor Parkway walk was with music but couldn’t find a groove, until switching to Michael Nyman radio.
took a bench in Flushing Meadows, ready for the home stretch walk down Roosevelt.
dreaming of carrot cake and pizza. I could taste it.
Time to end this epic walk.

May 15, 2020 - Cannot Walk in the Middle of the Day

Notes:

11:35am to 1:13pm
5.17 miles
10,901 steps
Matcha tea
Greek yogurt with berries and granola
warm weather is here. could tell it was over 80.
need early morning walks during the summer. Work inside during the afternoon, perhaps a late afternoon walk.
Need to get the fucking computer back.
An hour later. Apple isn’t going to charge for the repair! wasn’t expecting that but damn, that’s a good break

May 16, 2020 - Ward’s Island Pedestrian Bridge Into Manhattan

Notes:

9:50am to 1:56pm
13.14 miles
28,045 steps
Woke up with a stuffy nose after zonking out for an hour. Laid in bed concerned it was covid
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
Sourdough wheat toast with raspberry jam and butter
standing on a tree stump, dread in my heart, trying to get back to bliss, the worst is not the worst if we don’t let it be
what is the first walking project without photos?
Into Astoria, down Newtown, veer off the 20th, overshot the entrance to the RFK.
On the other side down the tunnel into Randall’s Island.
Into the park, found the path up and around to the greenery, and the marsh.
Walking under the bridge is a trip, worth the visit alone.
Time to get up move, keep going, to the pedestrian bridge. It was crowded, very crowded.
Mostly in the moment, looking at plants, infrastructure, thinking about the projects.

May 17, 2020 - 34th Ave to Walk the Open Spaces

Notes:

3:34pm to 7:01pm
7.28 miles
15,720 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
if the subject is green spaces, what do you define as a green space?
Tethered data for one hour.
full northern blvd walk - plot out every block?
total information experiment
took a bench, marked the spot, and then walked back home, standing on a few tree stumps along the way.

May 18, 2020 - Into Astoria Park to Walk the Desire Path Before Back to 30th St to Pick Up Some Apples and Trailmix

Notes:

6:34am to 10:33am
7.92 miles
22,547 steps
Up at 5:30am. Perfect for an early morning walk.
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
walking the existential first principle

May 19, 2020 - The Convergence of Place, Moment and Idea

Notes:

9:23am to 5:52pm
15.1 miles
32,047 steps
decided to make a walk of it to Ridgewood Reservoir, knowing it would be an all day event.
Matcha tea
Fage yogurt with morning trail mix
how to make each walk novel? it’s the game, the script, the challenge, can be the derive
Maspeth project, first field observation
Ended up Googling novelty and memory before leaving for the walk.
The map and the notes connecting.
The process is alive
Leaving the reservoir, and into Ridgewood, then the border with Maspeth.
Finding the spots and then thinking about the questions. It was magical.

May 20, 2020 - Maspeth Perimeter: Variation 1

Notes:

9:42am to 4:06pm
13.13 miles
28,524 steps
Matcha tea
Honey crisp apple with almond butter
Sourdough toast with butter and cinnamon
Something new happened on this walk.
Finding the locations and then figuring out the clues was magical.
Remove the camera. Just look. What do you notice?
Starting on the desire path was perfection.
The remaining walk around the perimeter was filled with more surprises.
Arriving at each location felt like a jolt of inspiration.

May 21, 2020 - Hunters Point South Park Variation 6

Notes:

10:55am to 3:09pm
7.98 miles
16,404 steps
Matcha tea
Honey crisp apple with almond butter
feel the boulder slowly rolling down the hill, getting closer and closer.
The walk of course was glorious.
All is well on the walk, in the field

May 22, 2020 - We’ll Reach the Final Destination Soon

Notes:

11:41am to 3:38pm
9.1 miles
20,137 steps
Matcha tea
Honey crisp apple with almond butter
Artists who want to do more, level up, experiment
walking helps regulate time and energy
video every block in sunnyside
Fraud everywhere. Am I the fraud?
What am I doing? I’m 43. This is stupid.

May 23, 2020 - Slow Zone

Notes:

8:22pm to 9:34pm
3.2 miles
7,430 steps
Matcha tea
Honey crisp apple with almond butter
Give yourself clues to the future
the language is all around
Back to 48th St at 9:04pm
Writing in the field
Experimented with the walk and it worked.
Not a real school. Internet school

May 24, 2020 - A Virus and a Tree Stump

Notes:

2:56pm to 6:56pm
8.72 miles
18,156 steps
Matcha tea
Blueberries with almond yogurt and granola
Two pieces of sourdough toast
Smell of the grill, nostalgia to St. Cloud, live another life from the beginning
“Bryan you’re not coming home with one leg”
pitbull
return of the mack
The late afternoon walk can never be epic.
The heat is coming.

May 25, 2020 - Time Landscape

Notes:

11:12am to 6:46pm
17.13 miles
33,834 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter
2 pieces of sourdough toast with butter
starts with a screaming kid
the flow the bridge
decision to time landscape
art is the tip of the spear
first time at 51st bridge
I am at time landscape
count how many people cross bridges in an hour, how many days? locations?
down 14th St, through Washington Square Park. It was packed, took a bench, then the restroom.
The output. The output. The output.
translate data into art.

May 26, 2020 - 34th Ave Open Streets, Nice Breeze, Warm, Lazy Summer Day, No Future

Notes:

2:46pm to 6:46pm
4.85 miles
10,557 steps
Matcha tea
Avocado toast with kimchi + honey and red chilli flakes
Old man in the ER, testing for Covid19
barebones and sidewinder are freelancers trying to get back pay while evading debt collectors
Watched the Basquiat PBS show

May 27, 2020 - Walking Immediately in the Morning is Optimal

Notes:

8:06am to 1:14pm
9.37 miles
21,000 steps
Matcha tea
Fast since 8pm previous night
Tree stumps, walking shoes
Dropbox walking article
Top five bucket list cities to walk
Up early for a refreshing walk to Roosevelt Island.
Walking immediately in the morning is optimal. Starting at mid-morning is a curse. Late afternoon can work on the right occasion. Night for 90 minutes max.
took a seat and spotted the 51st pedestrian bridge.
All the connections. They are everywhere.
250 color photographs of green spaces.
hate real writing.

May 28, 2020 - Walking in the Opposite Direction is Illuminating

Notes:

7:28am to 10:52am
7.75 miles
16,741 steps
Woke up super early, around 5:30am, no walk plans. Breakfast and map rumination.
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter and honey
Two pieces of sourdough wheat toast with butter
The Seven Walks
At the Queens Blvd split, opted to go into LIC for a trip to Hunters Point South Park.
walked a different route through LIC, and into the park. First stop, the bathroom.
No need to complicate anything.
Walk back along Queens Blvd. Perfect loop.

May 30, 2020 - Skyway Loop Variation

Notes:

10:05am to 3:42pm
9.98 miles
20,890 steps
No planning. Another day of protests.
don’t know how to process the news out of Minneapolis
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter and honey
the morning calm contrasted with the news on the TV
In a daze.
can walk, but the mediation is meaningless.

May 31, 2020 - Weather is Beautiful, But Everything is Melting

Notes:

9:05am to 2:49pm
7.61 miles
16,464 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter and honey
unique city green spaces
what words do POC use to describe a walk
community garden, unique city green spaces
too much leisure at the park
the white couple talking to cops about the daily party outside their condo
weather is beautiful, but everything is melting.
On Skillman, the light and the weeds on the sidewalk
walk on the rail line. First time. There was another photographer. It was weird.
a nice walk until I heard the guys yelling, thought they wanted me to get off, but they were graffiti artists asking me if I write. No, I’m a photographer. They wanted to come up and write. They were curious, told them I like what they do, we’re all artists!
To Hunters Point.
Luminiscence photo was quick. A long time on the bench.
need to sleep.

June 1, 2020 - The Guardian of the Dead Tree

Notes:

3:19pm to 7:31pm
9 miles
19,038 steps
Matcha tea
Honeycrisp apple with almond butter and honey
Two pieces of sourdough toast with butter
Walk to Mikey’s to pick up the computer. Nothing of note.
Ran into PaulK on Manhattan Ave on the way back.
Anxiety over the protests in Minneapolis
Plenty of work ahead.

FIN