mitchshe

Scurrying to my next destination, my feet sometimes traveling faster than the rest of my body, I do not glance up. Philadelphia’s iconic skyline may be the only structural element I notice on my rush to work or school. I am not alone. Details are overlooked in a mad dash to get things accomplished. Never once stopping to smell the roses, the five blocks I navigate daily on 15th Street are a blur. I am unable to accurately describe some key architectural structures/elements that line the sidewalk. I am lost in my head, constantly planning, worrying, and obsessing as I speed to my next destination. Growing up a child of deaf adults, my upbringing was very visual. In recent years, my visual observances have significantly decreased. I would like to become re-acquainted with my neighborhood, my city. I spend more time staring at the ground than anything else. For my urban exploration project I would like to open my eyes to the world around me. I want to take in every minute detail. Using photography, video, Google Maps, and online networks like Twitter, I will document the outstanding elements of the areas I travel on a daily basis. With photography I will document visual elements of a specific area. As I explore different parts of the city, I will update Twitter with my finds, a “live” feed of my discoveries. A more detailed description of my finds can later be found on a blog. If necessary, I will incorporate video that captures the moving elements of the region. I would like to focus on my personal journey through the city, documenting areas encountered by me on a daily basis, hopefully encouraging others to also begin to take note of their personal experiences with the city. I will document my finds daily. Daily documentation will keep this project current and work as an online diary, of sorts.