45 + 131 points
Exquisite Dérive by Charlie Fish, praximity, teucer, artmouse, Sombrero Guy, Secret Agent
March 9th, 2010 12:00 PM
The idea
The idea was to do part two of this task: "Walk a short route alone, then send a collaborator the last segment of your trip so that they can pick up where you left off. You may complete this in separate cities by using more generic instructions (e.g. walk three blocks, then turn left). Finally, walk the complete route you and your collaborators have created."
The route
1. Charlie Fish - Start at the market. You know, the big cool one. Go onto the main road and walk south. Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes. Then turn right again and walk until you get to water. What do you see?
2. Praximity - Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street. Turn downhill. When you arrive at the next big road, go through the nearest door. Peruse. Take note of an object within that strikes your attention. Once you've noted this, go to the nearest intersection. Your object will tell you where to go. Walk in the direction you must until you notice something odd.
3. Teucer - Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building, maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out. Hop over it. Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in, making note of all you see, until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
4. artmouse - Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming, return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd. Make the next right, continue until you reach the next busy intersection. Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection. Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
5. Sombrero Guy - Turn around and continue in the direction you were going before turning right. Head towards and walk directly past the nearest public transport stop. When you come to a place where you can purchase food, take the next right. Look around you for an interestingly shaped building. Approach and, if possible, enter this building.
6. Secret Agent - Follow your belly over a familiar route made unfamiliar. When sated, continue by impression, privileging the following types of ambience: streets named after movies, previously unnoticed courtyards, views of buildings with crests and latin mottoes, the shady streets, or at least the shady side (unless it's overcast, in which case, the brighter byways), streets named for booze, colourful politics. And your own impulse. You'll know when you're done.
Individual accounts
Charlie Fish:
Start at the market. You know, the big cool one.
Go onto the main road and walk south.
Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes.
Then turn right again and walk until you get to water. What do you see?
This awesome building was at the canal bridge
Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street. Turn downhill.
When you arrive at the next big road, go through the nearest door.
Peruse. Take note of an object within that strikes your attention.
Once you've noted this, go to the nearest intersection. Your object will tell you where to go.
Tweety is a bird. Nandos serve chicken. Chickens are birds. So I went that way. I did not eat Tweety.
Walk in the direction you must
until you notice something odd.
Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building,
maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out.
You can barely see it, but there's a gate there to the left of the Olive sign
Hop over it. Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in, making note of all you see,
until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
I think this was someone's garden
Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming, return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd.
The cows!
Make the next right, continue until you reach the next busy intersection. Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection. Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
I followed the last two sets of instructions (Sombrero Guy's and Secret Agent's) in kind of reverse order. Not intentionally, that's just how the derive took me.
Follow your belly over a familiar route made unfamiliar.
When sated, continue by impression,
privileging the following types of ambience: streets named after movies,
This one's stretching it, but Winnie the Pooh was in a movie...
previously unnoticed courtyards,
views of buildings with crests and latin mottoes,
the shady streets, or at least the shady side (unless it's overcast, in which case, the brighter byways),
streets named for booze, colourful politics.
The latter
And your own impulse. You'll know when you're done.
Turn around and continue in the direction you were going before turning right. Head towards and walk directly past the nearest public transport stop. When you come to a place where you can purchase food, take the next right.
Look around you for an interestingly shaped building. Approach and, if possible, enter this building.
That's a weird shaped building. OK, instructions complete... now, what the hell is this building? I walk around it and find:
I'm still mystified! I look inside and find:
Freaked me out, but he was only a dummy. Hmm. I wander over to the next door building, and my suspicions are confirmed:
So I find a fireman and ask if I can climb the tower.
No.
I'll be careful! You can lend me a helmet!
No.
Even if you come with me?
Oh, ok then.
What an awesome end to the derive! I walked 5 miles in total. Map here.
Praximity: Photos and description forthcoming.
[In the absence of any word from Praximity, but not wanting to hold the whole thing back from your ever-loving, critical eyes, we release this proof on you, full of gratitude for Praximity's contribution to the route we walked, and in the hopes that eventually this sentence will be replaced with more documentation in which we shall all rejoice.]
Teucer:
Foolishly, I failed to take any pictures. But I will tell you about the awesome free zine I got when I wandered through an open door into the anarchist bookstore.
It's pink. It's called "Sing Out!" and is about organizing underground concerts, with an emphasis on feminist benefit punk shows. It's full of notes about how you need to make sure there is vegan food available, how it's actually easier to get people to pay at a benefit concert than at a normal underground concert, why the authors' regular shows (to benefit a free women's health clinic in Chicago) always use only acts that have at least one woman in them, and similar topics.
It reminds me yet again of how awesome the punk scene is. I'd totally involve myself in it, if it weren't for the fact that I strongly dislike the music.
artmouse:
Start at the market. You know, the big cool one. Pauline's - two floors chock full, floor to ceiling antiquities from awesome days past.
Go onto the main road and walk south. Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes. Then turn right again and walk until you get to water. What do you see?
going towards water, through the industrial district
almost to the water: Little House Cafe - insanely good breakfasts. quaint. here you see some members of the Alameda Police, with a trusty K9.
water.
What i encounter next is truly amazing - at first it's just an older gentleman sweeping up broken glass next to a fence with a 'No Trespassing' sign, the surest sign of adventure.
... but the actuality of what i found was much more incredible:
Wilbur, turns out, is the caretaker of the Alameda Museum of Graffiti.
it may not look like much from these photos, but you can see the above link for a more expanded vision of the awesomeness that fills the multitude of abandoned, burned out warehouses.
...As 'admission,' Wilbur asked me to help him out with a little something...
a number of weeks before, he broke his ankle. because of this, he has been unable to paint the second toe of each foot bright pink. (no, you didn't read that wrong!) Wilbur is quite a character. his mother used to tell him that his long second toe was a sign of royalty, and so he honors her memory (and his regal nature) by painting each long toe bright pink.
being in such an elated mood, i step back and laugh to myself about the amusingly unlikely situation i'm in and take up Wilbur on his admission price - leaving my own mark in exchange.
anyway, back to the derive...
Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street. Turn downhill. When you arrive at the next big road, go through the nearest door.
Peruse.
Take note of an object within that strikes your attention. Your object will tell you where to go.
i happen to come across what is labelled as a "Diamond Matrix Part II 8.2000," so naturally, i head towards the nearby jewelry store.
Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building, maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out.
Hop over it. Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in, making note of all you see, until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
the yard was rather full of stuff, but then i noticed the small dogs, and they noticed me...
Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming read: little dogs yapping at you and trying to bite at your ankles
return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd. here's the jewelry store, which happened to be the a launching point for some of "America's Most Wanted" - hence the heavy barricading of windows and doorway with metal grating.
Make the next right, continue until you reach the next busy intersection. Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection. Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
This particular Alameda avenue is a tiny lane that runs through the middle of a standard block, it had a number of speed bumps on its already narrow, side-walk-less pavement and to top it all off, it sports many houses specially designed for dwarfs and midgets.
Other notes of interest:
Wilbur's card
cat in the hat i assembled on my way home
_
Sombrero Guy:
Start at the market. You know, the big cool one.
The market in Bournemouth Square is not really big or cool, but it's about the best I'm going to get around here...
Go onto the main road and walk south.
Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes.
Then turn right again
and walk until you get to water.
What do you see?
This is the fountain in the car park of the Pavilion Theatre. It's a charming local venue for all sorts of productions, so obviously the local council want to close it down...
Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street.
Turn downhill.
It was a long walk through the central gardens until I came to a road...
When you arrive at the next big road,
go through the nearest door. Peruse.
Take note of an object within that strikes your attention.
Look, a straw hat! I like straw hats.
Once you've noted this, go to the nearest intersection.
Your object will tell you where to go.
See, the man in the picture on this restaurant is wearing a hat. And I'll follow the direction his body is facing.
Walk in the direction you must until you notice something odd.
Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building,
maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out.
I've been here before...
Hop over it.
At the time of writing this, I think this old mini golf course is being dug up for a car park. This is a pity. It had become a favourite location of mine...
Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in,
making note of all you see,
until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming,
On closer inspection, the area under these trees was littered with empty beer cans.
return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd. Make the next right,
continue
until you reach the next busy intersection.
Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection.
Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
I was tempted to enter, but I could see there was a dead end beyond the barrier.
Turn around and continue in the direction you were going before turning right. Head towards and walk directly past the nearest public transport stop.
When you come to a place where you can purchase food,
take the next right.
Look around you for an interestingly shaped building.
This is the Oceanarium, one of Bournemouth's only tourist attractions which has kept going throughout all the time I've lived here.
Approach and, if possible, enter this building.
The entrance takes you into the shop
Secret Agent:
Words and pictures...
View Secretagent's Exquisite Dérive in a larger map
There's some audio to listen to, down in the files. There's a bit in the map that tells you when.
The idea was to do part two of this task: "Walk a short route alone, then send a collaborator the last segment of your trip so that they can pick up where you left off. You may complete this in separate cities by using more generic instructions (e.g. walk three blocks, then turn left). Finally, walk the complete route you and your collaborators have created."
The route
1. Charlie Fish - Start at the market. You know, the big cool one. Go onto the main road and walk south. Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes. Then turn right again and walk until you get to water. What do you see?
2. Praximity - Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street. Turn downhill. When you arrive at the next big road, go through the nearest door. Peruse. Take note of an object within that strikes your attention. Once you've noted this, go to the nearest intersection. Your object will tell you where to go. Walk in the direction you must until you notice something odd.
3. Teucer - Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building, maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out. Hop over it. Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in, making note of all you see, until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
4. artmouse - Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming, return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd. Make the next right, continue until you reach the next busy intersection. Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection. Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
5. Sombrero Guy - Turn around and continue in the direction you were going before turning right. Head towards and walk directly past the nearest public transport stop. When you come to a place where you can purchase food, take the next right. Look around you for an interestingly shaped building. Approach and, if possible, enter this building.
6. Secret Agent - Follow your belly over a familiar route made unfamiliar. When sated, continue by impression, privileging the following types of ambience: streets named after movies, previously unnoticed courtyards, views of buildings with crests and latin mottoes, the shady streets, or at least the shady side (unless it's overcast, in which case, the brighter byways), streets named for booze, colourful politics. And your own impulse. You'll know when you're done.
Individual accounts
Charlie Fish:
Start at the market. You know, the big cool one.
Go onto the main road and walk south.
Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes.
Then turn right again and walk until you get to water. What do you see?
This awesome building was at the canal bridge
Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street. Turn downhill.
When you arrive at the next big road, go through the nearest door.
Peruse. Take note of an object within that strikes your attention.
Once you've noted this, go to the nearest intersection. Your object will tell you where to go.
Tweety is a bird. Nandos serve chicken. Chickens are birds. So I went that way. I did not eat Tweety.
Walk in the direction you must
until you notice something odd.
Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building,
maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out.
You can barely see it, but there's a gate there to the left of the Olive sign
Hop over it. Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in, making note of all you see,
until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
I think this was someone's garden
Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming, return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd.
The cows!
Make the next right, continue until you reach the next busy intersection. Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection. Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
I followed the last two sets of instructions (Sombrero Guy's and Secret Agent's) in kind of reverse order. Not intentionally, that's just how the derive took me.Follow your belly over a familiar route made unfamiliar.
When sated, continue by impression,
privileging the following types of ambience: streets named after movies,
This one's stretching it, but Winnie the Pooh was in a movie...
previously unnoticed courtyards,
views of buildings with crests and latin mottoes,
the shady streets, or at least the shady side (unless it's overcast, in which case, the brighter byways),
streets named for booze, colourful politics.
The latter
And your own impulse. You'll know when you're done.
Turn around and continue in the direction you were going before turning right. Head towards and walk directly past the nearest public transport stop. When you come to a place where you can purchase food, take the next right.
Look around you for an interestingly shaped building. Approach and, if possible, enter this building.
That's a weird shaped building. OK, instructions complete... now, what the hell is this building? I walk around it and find:
I'm still mystified! I look inside and find:Freaked me out, but he was only a dummy. Hmm. I wander over to the next door building, and my suspicions are confirmed:So I find a fireman and ask if I can climb the tower.No.
I'll be careful! You can lend me a helmet!
No.
Even if you come with me?
Oh, ok then.
What an awesome end to the derive! I walked 5 miles in total. Map here.Praximity: Photos and description forthcoming.
[In the absence of any word from Praximity, but not wanting to hold the whole thing back from your ever-loving, critical eyes, we release this proof on you, full of gratitude for Praximity's contribution to the route we walked, and in the hopes that eventually this sentence will be replaced with more documentation in which we shall all rejoice.]
Teucer:
Foolishly, I failed to take any pictures. But I will tell you about the awesome free zine I got when I wandered through an open door into the anarchist bookstore.
It's pink. It's called "Sing Out!" and is about organizing underground concerts, with an emphasis on feminist benefit punk shows. It's full of notes about how you need to make sure there is vegan food available, how it's actually easier to get people to pay at a benefit concert than at a normal underground concert, why the authors' regular shows (to benefit a free women's health clinic in Chicago) always use only acts that have at least one woman in them, and similar topics.
It reminds me yet again of how awesome the punk scene is. I'd totally involve myself in it, if it weren't for the fact that I strongly dislike the music.
artmouse:
Notes (from the field)
Wilbur - notorious not famous
Native American camp (visibility)
Temple of Light
Alameda Museum of Graffiti $2 admission
my "mark" on cast
big 2nd toe bright pink
Start at the market. You know, the big cool one. Pauline's - two floors chock full, floor to ceiling antiquities from awesome days past.
Go onto the main road and walk south. Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes. Then turn right again and walk until you get to water. What do you see?going towards water, through the industrial district
almost to the water: Little House Cafe - insanely good breakfasts. quaint. here you see some members of the Alameda Police, with a trusty K9.
water.
What i encounter next is truly amazing - at first it's just an older gentleman sweeping up broken glass next to a fence with a 'No Trespassing' sign, the surest sign of adventure.
... but the actuality of what i found was much more incredible:
Wilbur, turns out, is the caretaker of the Alameda Museum of Graffiti.
it may not look like much from these photos, but you can see the above link for a more expanded vision of the awesomeness that fills the multitude of abandoned, burned out warehouses.
...As 'admission,' Wilbur asked me to help him out with a little something...
a number of weeks before, he broke his ankle. because of this, he has been unable to paint the second toe of each foot bright pink. (no, you didn't read that wrong!) Wilbur is quite a character. his mother used to tell him that his long second toe was a sign of royalty, and so he honors her memory (and his regal nature) by painting each long toe bright pink.
being in such an elated mood, i step back and laugh to myself about the amusingly unlikely situation i'm in and take up Wilbur on his admission price - leaving my own mark in exchange.
anyway, back to the derive...
Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street. Turn downhill. When you arrive at the next big road, go through the nearest door.
Peruse. Take note of an object within that strikes your attention. Your object will tell you where to go. i happen to come across what is labelled as a "Diamond Matrix Part II 8.2000," so naturally, i head towards the nearby jewelry store.
Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building, maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out. Hop over it. Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in, making note of all you see, until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.the yard was rather full of stuff, but then i noticed the small dogs, and they noticed me...
Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming read: little dogs yapping at you and trying to bite at your ankles
return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd. here's the jewelry store, which happened to be the a launching point for some of "America's Most Wanted" - hence the heavy barricading of windows and doorway with metal grating.
Make the next right, continue until you reach the next busy intersection. Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection. Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street? This particular Alameda avenue is a tiny lane that runs through the middle of a standard block, it had a number of speed bumps on its already narrow, side-walk-less pavement and to top it all off, it sports many houses specially designed for dwarfs and midgets.
Other notes of interest:
Wilbur's card
cat in the hat i assembled on my way home
_
Sombrero Guy:
Start at the market. You know, the big cool one.
The market in Bournemouth Square is not really big or cool, but it's about the best I'm going to get around here...Go onto the main road and walk south.
Take the first road on the right, and walk along it for three minutes.
Then turn right again
and walk until you get to water.
What do you see?
This is the fountain in the car park of the Pavilion Theatre. It's a charming local venue for all sorts of productions, so obviously the local council want to close it down...Head in the direction you were going until you hit the next street.
Turn downhill.
It was a long walk through the central gardens until I came to a road...When you arrive at the next big road,
go through the nearest door. Peruse.
Take note of an object within that strikes your attention.
Look, a straw hat! I like straw hats.Once you've noted this, go to the nearest intersection.
Your object will tell you where to go.
See, the man in the picture on this restaurant is wearing a hat. And I'll follow the direction his body is facing.Walk in the direction you must until you notice something odd.
Go directly away from the nearest out-of-place building,
maintaining that approximate heading until you find a wall, fence, or other barrier meant to keep you out.
I've been here before...Hop over it.
At the time of writing this, I think this old mini golf course is being dug up for a car park. This is a pity. It had become a favourite location of mine...Start going counter clockwise around the inside perimeter of the space you find yourself in,
making note of all you see,
until you notice something welcoming. Approach it.
Once the welcome thing becomes not so welcoming,
On closer inspection, the area under these trees was littered with empty beer cans.return towards the out-of-place building and continue in the direction you were headed until you noticed something odd. Make the next right,
continue
until you reach the next busy intersection.
Make a left turn directly after crossing through said intersection.
Then, make the first right. What is remarkable about this street?
I was tempted to enter, but I could see there was a dead end beyond the barrier.Turn around and continue in the direction you were going before turning right. Head towards and walk directly past the nearest public transport stop.
When you come to a place where you can purchase food,
take the next right.
Look around you for an interestingly shaped building.
This is the Oceanarium, one of Bournemouth's only tourist attractions which has kept going throughout all the time I've lived here.Approach and, if possible, enter this building.
The entrance takes you into the shopSecret Agent:
Words and pictures...
View Secretagent's Exquisite Dérive in a larger map
There's some audio to listen to, down in the files. There's a bit in the map that tells you when.
27 vote(s)
- Lincøln
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votelater18 comment(s)
posted by relet 裁判長 on March 10th, 2010 6:49 AM
Wow. I wish I could find a task that allows me to follow your directions.
posted by rongo rongo on March 10th, 2010 7:32 AM
Great way to find interesting places that you'd never normally encounter. Super!
posted by saille is planting praxis on March 10th, 2010 8:37 AM
This is absolutely amazing.
Also, I miss London.
posted by Charlie Fish on March 10th, 2010 5:01 PM
Pardon my ignorance Saille, but what's your connection to London?
posted by saille is planting praxis on March 11th, 2010 9:00 AM
Charlie: Very little. One of my bestest internet friends throughout university lived within a reasonable train ride of the city, and I fell in love with it during one of our many school-holiday vacations flying back and forth across the Atlantic to sleep on one another's couches and see the local sites. It's been almost ten years, and your photos of Camden Market and surrounds made me miss it so.
posted by Charlie Fish on March 11th, 2010 5:35 PM
We have a spare room 4 minutes' walk from Brixton tube station if you fancy popping across the Atlantic again anytime soon...
posted by Lincøln on March 11th, 2010 10:43 PM
Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!
posted by Nathan Dean on March 11th, 2010 2:46 AM
This is truly the most spectacular derive I have ever encountered on here. The skill involved, and the evidence.
The stories as well, I mean, that is what really makes this.
May I do this one day, in my home city of Lincoln?
posted by Secret Agent on March 11th, 2010 3:31 AM
Thanks kindly, though I've always thought of a dérive as unskilled work. Required: only a will to move without going anywhere literal.
No reason why you shouldn't try this in Lincoln, or even wherever you are now.
posted by teucer on March 11th, 2010 6:01 AM
Debord's essay on derives is in the library, if you wish to know more.
posted by Lincøln on March 11th, 2010 1:48 PM
Please don't try this in Lincoln. There's not all that much room.
posted by Nathan Dean on March 14th, 2010 3:32 AM
Secret Agent: Indeed. I was wandering around a town near where I live and it has lots of little alleyways and things Im sure a curious untainted-by-soceity/motives mind would love
teucer: thank you. I had no idea that existed XD
Lincoln: Are you implying doing this in yourself, OR, that the city of Lincoln, UK is not big enough
posted by susy derkins on March 13th, 2010 9:12 AM
Wow praxis like this, you guys! Rocking the long distance collaborations once again, aren´t you? Happyhappyhappy feeling that this can be done, of course the instructions will be followed around here too, what the heck :)
Damn, Charlie Fish´s, that dialogue to get to the top of the tower is marvelous
posted by susy derkins on March 13th, 2010 6:28 PM
I feel that I had been to the Louvre now. The Dérive could be constructed of all sounds, starting with that awful mall humming and getting to whatever it sounds like under the Eiffel tower.
posted by Vena Nightmare on March 15th, 2010 4:14 PM
I totally thought you found a body, still a bit freaked out. Great praxis, since it really got my heart rate up!
You guys spilled a whole lot of win all of this.