Red Cedar River Walk

The Red Cedar River Walk draws upon art, science and technology to foster a deeper connection between people and the natural environment through sound. A combination of field recordings of river systems and lakes in the Great Lakes Basin, interviews and electro-acoustic compositions are assigned specific GPS coordinates along each side of the Red Cedar River, from Beal Street to Farm Lane, using the Echoes.xyz app (https://echoes.xyz). After downloading the app, people can walk along the river and listen as they pass each GPS coordinate. The app is free for both iPhone and Android users. Advancements in technology – specifically mobile devices – have further separated us from the natural environment, even when we are outside. The River Walk attempts to reconcile this separation through sound by using cell phones as the medium to access the recordings. In this way, technology is repurposed as a tool to connect rather than one to distract. We cannot remove ourselves from the environments that surround us. By encouraging members of the MSU community to open their ears to the sound of water across the globe, the River Walk aims to remind people of the significance of our most precious natural resource and to offer a new perspective on the importance of listening to the world around us.