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From our recording studio in Brooklyn, we make audio that celebrates human creativity, history and the spaces we live to learn about.

When Covid started, some aspects of our lives seemed to slow down. We began taking longer walks in the park, and noticing things around us more. We stopped to smell flowers, watch dogs play in the pond and read books on park benches. And we started to realize how lucky we were to live so close to such a magical park.

Saunter with us as we explore the interesting history and ecology of the park, and pay homage to this wonderful part of Brooklyn.

This walk was created in Summer 2020.

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Prospect Park

When a key player goes missing at the marriage ceremony of the summer, reluctant wedding columnist Bobbi Rossetti transfigures into an ad hoc investigative reporter on the case. Follow Bobbi through a fictional version of 1920s Prospect Park as she decodes the clues and uncovers a stunning secret in this immersive audio mystery. 

Walter Prest is Duncan Gallagher 
Minnie Prest is Canning Robb
Irving Locke is Jake Kuhn
Roland Archer is Nathan Snow
Caissa Archer is Haley Schwartz
Bobbi Rossetti is Georgia Wright
Additional voice acting by Carter Hodge and Rebecca Carroll

Good Prospects was produced, written, and edited by Georgia Wright for Gesso. 

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Good Prospects: An Audio Mystery

Late one night during Covid, we started wondering “Did Williamsburg invent the hipster?”

Turns out the answer is no. In fact, probably closer to the opposite. The first hipsters were fashionable non-conformists and creative countercultural types. But, what happens when a movement founded on non-conformity becomes something you can buy off the rack? 

Join us on a sociological dive into this subculture. We’ll find all of the markers of hipsterism, from thrifting and vinyls, to beer and bowling, and even (vegan) ice cream.

This walk was created in Summer 2020.

$11.99

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Williamsburg

With news focused on space travel to distant galaxies, we often take for granted the engineering marvels right in front of our own eyes. Now an iconic feature of the NYC skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge was once thought of as impossible. 

Meet the men, and woman, that advanced the science of bridge building by constructing this work of “Practical Grandeur”, and hear how the bridge served as the backdrop for the Black Lives Matter Movement.

This walk was created in the summer of 2020.

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Brooklyn Bridge

In the 1970s, Lower Manhattan was sliding into decay. Within this negative space emerged a new subculture. We’ll call them punks, even if they didn’t at first. 

We’ll peer into the shuttered storefronts, and reminisce on an intense period of artistic expression. Join us to retrace the steps of poets, photographers, painters and performers who defined punk. 

This walk was created in the summer of 2020.

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East Village

Come with us as we time travel to the Roaring 20’s and explore the creation of one of New York City’s most iconic places.
- Behind the scenes look at the renovations to the concourse
- Artistic masterpieces hidden in plain site
- 350 million year old fossils

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Rockefeller Center

Governors Island is just an eight-minute ferry ride from Lower Manhattan but feels a world apart. Once known by the Lenape people as Pagganack, or Nut Island, this ice cream cone-shaped site served as a military outpost for centuries and today stands as a scenic refuge that is home to an impressive array of cultural, environmental, educational, and recreational offerings. 

Grab a citibike at the station just by the ferry and join us as we  circle the island and trace its transformation, discover storied castles, innovative built environments and a park designed to withstand climate change.

This tour was made as a collaboration between Open House New York, the Trust for Governors Island, and Gesso in summer 2021.

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Governors Island

We have embarked on a transformation of the Center, continuously considering how to innovate for the future while remaining rooted in the our timeless legacy: culture, community, commerce, and green spaces – all coming together in the heart of the city. 

Hear about history in the remaking.

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Redevelopment

In the 1960s, SoHo was deserted. That's when my parents moved here.

I'm Yukie Ohta. My sister Mimi and I were born and raised in SoHo, and I still live here with my artist husband and our daughter. 

I want to show you my SoHo. We’ll trace signs of the past, and uncover hidden details only lifelong residents can show you.

PS - Bring a fridge magnet if you have one handy!

This walk was created in the summer of 2021.

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SoHo

Lower Manhattan has one of the highest concentrations of monuments and memorials in the world. This Gesso walking tour, written and narrated by designer & educator Eric Moed, will reveal New York City’s invisible past; NYC’s contested origin story, obscure fragments of history, hidden reflective spaces & unbuilt memorials. Nine sites of memory will challenge you to think critically about the role monuments and memorials in public space play in defining our past and present, exposing you to strategies to directly advance New York City’s story into the future. This tour is a joint production of Gesso and oopsa aka Office of Open Practice Studio/Agency. For more information visit www.oopsa.org. Special thank you to Alice Kakurina and Roman Mamus who contributed to the research and scripting of this tour.

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Downtown Monuments & Memorials: Contemporary, Radical, Invisible

Immerse yourself in a neighborhood where creativity, activism, and transformation resonate through its history. Discover hidden gems and stories from musicians, cheesemongers, historians, and artists who've revived places on the brink of obscurity, catalyzing global movements.

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Priceless New York: Greenwich Village

Migration allows people to adapt and survive. It also transforms a city into a community. Walk through downtown Oakland to uncover these interconnected migration stories.

Created in the Summer of 2021

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Oakland

A glimpse into some of the earliest settlers, innovators, and innovations from 19th century San Francisco's "Loma Alta" down through its most notorious neighborhood.

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Telegraph Hill

The fables, icons, and innovations which helped shape Florence into the “living museum” it is today.

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Blood, Magic and Misfits 

The “other” side of the Arno River, affectionately called the “Diladdarno” by the Florentines for eons. It’s a touch scruffier on this side, though, decidedly younger and weirder, so if you’re tiring of the Renaissance browns and reds immediately surrounding the Duomo, I trust that you’ll find an extra splash of color over here.

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Oltrarno | The Other Side of Florence

All the essentials, organized thoughtfully into a walk that you can do in a day, at your own pace. 

$17.99

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Florence in a Day

How Florence became Florence, from its signature cuisine to its central characters, all leading up to its brief stint as capital of a new country called Italy.

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Crossing Cultures

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LA: The Orderly Life of Disorder

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TOKYO: The River Smells Sea

Vanguard Voices
 
Vanguard Voices aims to amplify the voices and commemorate the lives and work of Irish women activists 1900-1923, by inviting people to become immersed in the walking web of locations and stories through the medium of augmented reality.
 
Inspired by locations that represent events relating to the women, we present the stories and commemorate the lives of Irish republican activists; the Vanguard Voices of Anna Parnell, Jennie Wyse Power and Maud Gonne, through the medium of Augmented Reality and social media, drawing on original sources and primary materials. These include sounds, photographs and text, witness statements, photographs and audio recordings from RTÉ, the Bureau of Military History and the National Library of Ireland.
 
The locations for Vanguard Voices are: The offices of the Ladies Land League, 39 O’Connell St., where Anna Parnell was President; Wynn’s Hotel, 35 Abbey St. Lwr., where Cumann na mBan was launched in 1914 by women including Jennie Wyse Power; and the rooms of the Celtic Literary Society, 42 Pearse St., the building where Maud Gonne founded Inghinidhe na hÉireann in 1900.
 
These works form part of an ongoing arts practice collaboration by Claire Fitch, Kelly McErlean and Martina Murray in which images and sounds separated by a century, are drawn together and presented using emerging platforms and technologies.
 
 
Bibliography
Gonne, Maud. BMH Voice Recording. Military Archives, Ireland.
Parnell, Anna. The Tale Of A Great Sham. Dublin: Arlen House. 1986
Wyse Power, Nancy. BMH WS 541, Military Archives, Ireland.
 
https://soundcloud.com/vanguardvoices
https://twitter.com/VanguardVoices
 
 
Dr Claire Fitch is a sound artist, an electroacoustic composer, a creator of electronic literature and transmedia, cellist and lecturer. Claire completed her PhD at Queen’s University Belfast, Sonic Arts Centre in 2019 with Professor Michael Alcorn. Between 1995 and 2012, she was a cellist in the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. In 2012 Claire began teaching digital audio to students in various colleges around Ireland, joining the staff of Dundalk Institute of Technology in 2015, where Dr Fitch is now Programme Director, MA/MSc in Music Technology. Her artistic practice is motivated by the investigation of the convergence of digital technology, audio, visuals, and text. Producing original works inspired by and responding to the voices of women is a particular focus.
https://clairefitch.wordpress.com/
 
Dr Kelly McErlean. PhD in Visual Culture - National College of Art and Design, Dublin. MA in Mass Communications - Leicester University. HND Computer Studies - Birmingham City University Golden Spiders Award winner 2005 / Digital Media Award winner 2006. Lecturer and Researcher at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Academic writer with Pearson. Developing several interactive film projects and 2 photobooks - 'New York is Purple' and 'Americana - California 1999'. 'Interactive Narratives & Transmedia Storytelling' - published by Routledge (Focal Press) - New York 2018.
http://www.kellymcerlean.com/
 
Martina Murray, is a writer and historian with a particular interest in feminist campaigns around social change. She is the co-author of Proud to Serve: The Voices of the Women of Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael: 1922-1992 (2021). In highlighting the contribution and achievements of twenty-eight women who had successful political careers with Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael, the book aims to stimulate broader awareness and debate about the role and work of women in Irish political life. Martina currently works as a freelance writer and web editor, and in recent years she has combined this with a role as Social Media Manager for HKM, which publishes titles including Totally Dublin, Dublin Riviera, Totally Cork and Totally Galway. Martina was awarded a BA (Hons) in English and History from the University of Dublin Trinity College in 1990 and an MBS in Human Resource Strategies from Dublin City University 2005. She has also undertaken collaborative projects in the area of diversity and inclusion in Ireland and Europe.
 
https://soundcloud.com/vanguardvoices
https://twitter.com/VanguardVoices

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Vanguard Voices

Just the hits, from the highs to the lows, and the ugly to the beautiful.

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Hits | The Classics

Leaning on the Eternal City as a sort of "crash course" in cinema, this walk will explore the invaluable real life set pieces used by some of the most legendary filmmakers in history, from Antonioni to Fellini.  Let Rome teach you a bit about the cinema as the cinema teaches you a whole lot about Rome.

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CineCity | Rome at the Movies

Traveling from ancient ruins to modern renewal, this walk explores the evolution of Roman cuisine while venturing out to the lively, expressive neighborhood of Testaccio.

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Testaccio | The Future is Food

Starting near the famed Rialto Bridge, we will explore some of Venice's most sordid sites, confronting the ghosts of sinners and saints while verging on a few vices of your own in the city's trendiest neighborhood: the northern "sestiere" of Cannaregio.

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Cannaregio | Sacred and Profane

Alongside the lagoon, this walk cuts through the major sites of Venice's most famous sestiere, San Marco, as it flows into the intimate neighborhood of Castello.  Beyond the unmissable tourist haunts, explore Venice's rich past and present, from medieval warships to modern art.

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St. Mark's and the Lagoon | The Belly of the Beast

Before Ted Lasso brought Richmond into the limelight, this picturesque London enclave was already a gem waiting to be discovered. 

Our curated tour weaves together the neighborhood's rich history, striking architecture, and verdant riverside landscapes, while taking you on a journey through the beloved show's iconic filming locations. 

A leisurely tube ride from the city center, Richmond offers a refreshing escape from urban chaos. Embark on this expertly crafted tour, and uncover the sophisticated charm that has long captivated those in the know.

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Richmond: From Royalty to Roy Kent

An evocative auditory journey exploring the iconic sites of Warrane (Sydney Cove), delving into its living cultures and layered histories through First Nations storytelling. Guided by narrator Bianca Hunt, experience three narrative vignettes from artist Alison Page, activist Cheree Toka, and cultural educator Jake Ferguson. Listeners will explore iconic sites, native plants, and public art, fostering a profound appreciation for the land, and the cultural mosaic of Gadigal ‘Sydney’.

Gesso Media

New York

GUIDED WALKS

Prospect Park

Good Prospects: An Audio Mystery

Williamsburg

Brooklyn Bridge

East Village

Rockefeller Center

Governors Island

Redevelopment

SoHo

Downtown Monuments & Memorials: Contemporary, Radical, Invisible

Priceless New York: Greenwich Village

SF + Bay Area

GUIDED WALKS

Oakland

Telegraph Hill

Florence

GUIDED WALKS

Blood, Magic and Misfits

Oltrarno | The Other Side of Florence

Florence in a Day

Crossing Cultures

(RE)VERB

GUIDED WALKS

LA: The Orderly Life of Disorder

TOKYO: The River Smells Sea

Vanguard Voices

Rome

GUIDED WALKS

Hits | The Classics

CineCity | Rome at the Movies

Testaccio | The Future is Food

Venice

GUIDED WALKS

Cannaregio | Sacred and Profane

St. Mark's and the Lagoon | The Belly of the Beast

London

GUIDED WALKS

Richmond: From Royalty to Roy Kent

Sydney

GUIDED WALKS

Priceless – Gadigal: Warrane (Sydney Cove)

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