The Laramide Trail

  We are to carry Riaz to the top of Tunnel Mountain on a litter. We carry Riaz’s luggage, a chair and table, and a pot of hot tea. Poetry and tunnel mountain history are read out by the guides. No smiling. Struggling to the top of the mountain the ceremonial photograph has us sherpas […]

  This afternoon I have got a booking for the narration booth. Leslie Thomas will read from green mountains walking. Ernie Kroeger will read some narrations of the Frank mining disaster. Renato Vitic has offered to do a list of placenames associated with the structural cross sections as well as some extracts from the history

  At the very last minute a track from the geophone recording ready for use. We edit the loudest bits down so the speaker doesn’t blow and then play it in the 4-story silo stairwell. It’s ready with a few minutes to go — a subwoofer vibrates 20 metre long waves of sound. And then

  2pm curator’s talk 7pm opening Kay Burns’ sound piece. Delicate collages by another artist. The catalogue is coming home by parcel mail.

  Met with sound and walking artist Kay Burns (of the Ministry of Walking). A show of works and some plans for work in the future. Walked Sorrel and Laura’s project about following directions. A flip of a coin determines whether we go with Laura and follow Sorrel’s directions or vice versa. I walk with

  Glycerine size recipe. Finishing many things.

  Packing up and making Halloween costume.

  Fantastic day photographing at the Cave and Basin. Fumaroles and miraculous water flowing out of the ground. Everybody’s costumes of the Halloween party were great. The party though was cut to the heart by Trudi breaking her leg. A painful accident made worse by somebody’s stupid boyfriend who accidentally kicks Trudi’s broken leg whilst

  Renato Vitic meets me at 1pm to record a list of placenames associated with the structural cross sections as well as some extracts from the history of the Cascade Gardens. I have obtained an aerial photo from 1922 as well as some plans from before the park headquarters was built. Now I have a

  The library here has a copy of To place (III) lava by Roni Horn in their artists book collection. I spend some time looking at this as well as the Janet Cardiff sound walk CD. Madly packing. Sent a tube home with the large prints and drawings in it.

  Finally pull the last zip shut and vacate my room and the studio. Sad goodbyes to as many people as I can find. I have bequeathed as many possessions as possible including the holy bucket. Can’t stand waste! Enough time to go down to Cascade Gardens for some more photography and then to the

  Hong Kong stopover. Marvellous ghostly mountain profiles until you realise that its actually daylight and you can’t see them because of the pollution.

  What was starting to feel like a mirage has suddenly become material again with a box of dirty clothes, 800 photographs, some cyanotypes, a dozen books and a pile of postcards and long forgotten photocopies have finally turned up! 

Now everything has returned. So many things to catch up with.