Present Attempt – Project: Walking (S)miles

Project: Walking (S)miles
Present Attempt

Sun 27th 3.20pm – 3.40pm
Open Platform Stage

Walking (S)miles is an event that builds a unique ‘map’ of a city as people wander through it, collecting smiles from passers by. Each time a participant receives a smile from a stranger, they record it by sending a text message back to the ‘Hub’ where the information is continuously received and processed in real-time. The ‘Hub’ gradually creates a live, temporal ‘map’ of the areas of city that have been explored. The event is also punctuated by a musical score – each time a smile is received, a glockenspiel is played; resulting in a live aleatoric composition determined by the frequency of smiling. This is then amplified through speakers/loudhailers for the city to hear. Walking Smiles has taken place in: London, Dec 2009 (Stoke Newington International Airport), Manchester, July 2010 (Hazard/Larkin’ About at The Greenroom), London, July 2010 (Hide and Seek Weekender at the National Theatre).

Image: Present Attempt