The Listening Path

Composer and sound artist Abby Aresty investigates the world through its sounds. This year, she’s inviting others to share her path.

October 11 marks the debut of Aresty’s The Listening Path — a creative, site-specific listening composition at Grinnell’s Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA).

The Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Electronic Music and Sound Studies, Aresty is composing several iterations of The Listening Path throughout the 2014-15 academic year, exploring CERA during different seasons.

During The Listening Path, participants experience the intersection of nature, sound, and mind on a hike through CERA's wildlands. They walk a 1.5-mile loop on a new trail around Perry Pond, stopping at points on the landscape to experience different ways of listening.

With the listening score for the walk, Aresty says, “Instead of structuring the sound, I am structuring the listening experience itself with particular site-specific prompts. The score and map will be shared online, and people can follow The Listening Path by themselves at a separate time to recreate the experience.” She would like to create a larger, printed map where people can share their experiences after completing the hike.

Participating in The Listening Path

The first soundscape walk with Abby Aresty will take place at 3–5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. It is free and open to the public.

The College is providing transportation to CERA for those who need it. RSVP to Elizabeth Hill to reserve a spot, and then meet at the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center drop-off area at 3 p.m. The vans will return at 5:30 p.m.

If you drive separately, meet in CERA’s Environmental Education Center parking area at 3:30 p.m.

Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.