The Dark Duplex - conclusion as of october, 2006

Three years, three maps, one field excursion later, Atom and I have learned many things. First, the fact that what we ‘know’ is sometimes as pliable as a lump of clay. Although Atom tried to make each map as ‘accurate’ as possible and was miffed at the resulting inconsistencies, each map was a candid portrayal of the impressions that he has committed to memory of his childhood street, over 20 years after the fact. I do understand his reaction tho. To witness physical evidence of one’s own memory in the process of decaying is discomforting to say the least, but this is just the role the imagination plays in molding, eroding, tinting and enhancing our memories over time.

Another conclusion is that we all have much more unique knowledge than we credit ourselves for. No one else in the world knows Linden Hills Blvd., Minneapolis, Minnesota, ca. 1970, the same way that Atom does, and this idea can be applied to us all. Even the perception of visual elements like colors are up for interpretation – as many people look at a shadow and see ‘grey --- black mixed with white,’ my art background prompts me to see blue-toned, burnt umber, and sepia shadows. Objects, streets, and neighborhoods have constant, rigid measurements, but our interpretation and organization of them is what we display on the documents we create.  If I found everyone else who grew up on Linden Hills Bld.,ca. 1970 and had each of them do the same exercise as Atom, I’m certain that the Jones’ map would differ from the Andersons; which would contrast “Z-Lips’” version, and...

Finally, a new interest of mine is born: navigating "real" space using someone's memory map.  As I wandered around the street which I'd heard such vivid stories about, I not only looked with an appreciation for what this must have been like, but I was able to find my own spaces to pause.  Thus, I experienced the "present" age in tandem with the dreams of another age diagrammed on the maps, and a story of my own is formed.