Mics & Hikes; Cultural District StoryBoxes Coming Soon

SLB welcomed enthusiastic, soon-to-be HearMe heroes from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and CitiParks to our studios this morning for a training class covering tips for eliciting, recording and editing stories. Participants included Erin Copeland, Ali Gelormino, Kendall Ayers, Lydia Konecky, Marijke Hecht, Melissa McMasters, Patty Himes, Phil Costanzo, Wendy Osher, Laura Cook and Mike Cornell. We had a terrific session and both organizations have really cool plans for using HearMe portable audio recorders and techniques to record thoughts and stories from children while outdoors in Frick Park and other city parks. Imagine hearing children talking about our great city parks along with the sounds of birds, squirrels, creeks and hikers!

As Jeff, Larry and Jess conducted training, Justin was putting finishing touches on the first co-branded SLB/HearMe StoryBox™ units (sneak preview above). As shown, these StoryBoxes will feature voices of children expressing hopes and aspirations for the New Year, all instantly playable at the touch of a button. Liz, Rob and Jeff have been collecting these hopes throughout December from students at area schools (including Pittsburgh King PreK-8, Pittsburgh Allegheny K-8, University Prep at Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12 and Mon Valley School) as well as informal workshops in our museum studios.

Six StoryBox units will be installed at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Arts Education Center, 805/807 Liberty Avenue, Downtown in late December through late January in collaboration with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. In addition to providing public display of the voices of children during this period, SLB and HearMe will be on hand on during special events on 12/31 (First Night) and 1/28 (Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District) to record additional hopes.

Looking for early inspiration for the New Year? Tune in to hear selections from this collection of hopes on The Saturday Light Brigade, 6 to noon on Saturdays, starting 12/18 through 1/29. We’re heard on six public radio stations covering Pennsylvania and Ohio (and online). See www.slbradio.org for an affiliate list.

-- Larry Berger, SLB