Initial Concept: Mountain Stairway as Words
Chosen Stairway: Amicalola Falls
Walk the path to the waterfall. Let each step in your journey become one word in an automatic story. Let the ceaseless rhythm of walking upwards deny any attempt at backtracking, pausing or rethinking. Mutter it under your breath as you climb, record or remember it. The automatic muse will walk alongside you, invisible yet potent…
Participant 1’s story:
In the darkness was a voice. And the voice spoke into the darkness. The voice spoke the darkness into something larger than it had been. The voice spoke the darkness into becoming a giant. The giant was very beautiful, and the giant was the world. From the giant’s mouth came time or light, and from the giant’s eyes came birth, and from the giant’s ears came death. From the giant’s navel came a great rushing waterfall. In the waters dwelled silver fish and rainbow fish and golden fish. From the waters arose a thick and roiling mist. Some of the mist became clouds. Within the mist was also dust, and over time, particles of dust clumped together and formed the dry lands. Some particles of dust crawled across the land on their bellies, some grew legs and walked, some grew wings and flew. Some particles of dust grew roots and stayed still and had leaves, some grew petals, and some crawled along the ground yet also had roots and leaves, and tendrils which clung.
Participant 2’s story:
Crystal clear object. This is a foot. A foot with toes, devoured by the Dog. Spit out one toe, little doggie. Wet and slimy now, they transform at our feet. Become a diamond necklace, marvelous. This diamond necklace does Everything, it does Nothing. Depending on one’s point, and one’s view. Necklace becomes a white bird, Necklace flies into earth’s greatest sandstorm. Below this sandstorm is the Great Pyramid of Giza, and a pharaoh. A banquet is set for him, a feast. A special duck is served. The Triangle Headed Duck. When devoured, each devourer’s head is remade as triangle, too. Is triangulated. And out from each of its three points, there seep Spirits. Spirits dark, and translucent. They become Faceless Walkers, fading into Horizon. As they walk, they are joined by one loyal friend and companion: sweet “Jacket”, black and warm. But at the turn of the earth, Jacket grows two raven wings, and departs. He follows the wind, he reaches the ocean storm. And flies into it. Alexander the Great sails in this storm, he rides it, and then, he fails. Once consumed by the waves, our earth stops spinning. And all humankind leaves at last, for darkest Jupiter. Settling deep on her beckoning clouds. Our sun weeps quite freely then, and repents.
