mayfield brooks

This project is born out of artist Mayfield Brooks' investigation into the sonic lives of whales and how they perceive the world through sound. Additionally, brooks has been exploring the correlation between the present and historical industrialized bodies of whales and Black people from whaling to slavery. A little known fact is that some slave ships were later used as whaling vessels. Through this research comes a sonic residence with grief and a commitment to listen more closely. If we were to take hints from how whales understand their world sonically, could we learn how to listen better? Perhaps the blues is a prescient corollary? What music draws us to the edge? This project encourages listening as a way of perceiving in order to understand the vibrant, intricate life along the NYC shoreline. The public will be invited to listen to the shoreline, and sounds will be experienced through live stream, guided silent walks, and other engaged activities.