Azavea: Philly’s Geo Heart
One of the monthly Brown Bag lunches at the Philadelphia based company Azavea, specialists in geographical data, was reserved for our project 250 Miles Crossing Philadelphia and we were quite honored by that.
250 Miles Crossing Philadelphia
A project by PolakVanBekkum
One of the monthly Brown Bag lunches at the Philadelphia based company Azavea, specialists in geographical data, was reserved for our project 250 Miles Crossing Philadelphia and we were quite honored by that.
In the far north east of Philadelphia, and by now I know I really mean the FAR north east, lies the neighborhood with the name that makes you think of horseback riding through the lovely lands of Pennsylvania: Parkwood Manor. Horsebacks are replaced by metal caged horse power, the lovely lands became playgrounds and shopping malls and the manors are family houses along curved roads. The place Kelly grew up and left when she was an adult, but where she found a job again at (the appropriate named!) Parkwood hairstyling. And we found here there again, with the totally open attitude to put on our Beagle and go for a stroll in her old community.
Michael Whittington walked a couple of blocks with the Beagle west of Torresdale station to see if he can get all the way to the Delaware river. He is surprised by the mansions he sees there. Didn’t know this is also Philadelphia. “One day for the wife and kids …” he says.
During our working period at the Department of Making and Doing, Adesola was our intern there. By the time we figured out that we were going to make a podcast as part of our project, we immediately knew who to ask as ‘the voice’: Sola. Although she was not directly involved in our project we were very glad she said yes.
While moving through Aker’s Shipyard one might be under the impression that the trucks that drive around are just man driven machines. But what if we see them as talking and listening creatures. How would the shipyard sound for them? And what are they talking about in this endless growling engine monologue?
Amazing Grace, the American Bully running around with our equipment, is attacked by young Bruno who sees it as a nice toy.
Herby we would like to announce our 3rd feedback meeting.
Fly with Us
Date: Monday, Sept 15th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: DM+D 3711 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa
Not far from the humming sound of traffic crossing Tacony-Palmyra Bridge from and to Jersey lies this priest. Accompanied by other remains from ecclesiastical ornaments the priest found its redemption in the the peaceful sound of water running through the Delaware river.
We went to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge to listen to the river, the way the bridge itself would listen to the river…. for the bridge, it is hard to do so, as the traffic crossing is loud and it drowns the sounds of the water and of the geese and of the wind even… would it work during the night? Or would cars continue to pass… better to be present one of those magic moments when the bridge opens to make a ship pass….. Silently, at least compared to the car sounds…
Today we made a recording at one of the mady stables that exist in North Philly. Urban Cowboys. The many empty lots can be used as fields, hoofs clatter in the streets and Fairmount park is not to far. From our Amsterdam point of view a remarkable and special feature of this city!