Her Long Black Hair

Janet Cardiff’s Her Long Black Hair is a 35-minute audio walk through Central Park, blending history, fiction, and 3D sound. Follow the voice of Cardiff as you retrace the path of a mysterious woman, reflecting on time, memory, and beauty with guided photographs along the way.

Where: Central Park, New York, NY

When: A 35-minute Asynchronous Experience

Ticket Price: Free

Join Janet Cardiff for a unique sound experience in Central Park with “Her Long Black Hair,” a 35-minute audio walk that begins at Central Park South. This journey transforms an everyday stroll into a deeper exploration of the park’s hidden histories and the mysterious tale of a dark-haired woman whose past footsteps you’ll follow. Using binaural recording technology to create a vivid three-dimensional soundscape, the walk blends narration with the rich sounds of local history, opera, and gospel music, weaving together fact, fiction, and the personal reflections of the listener. As you walk, Cardiff’s voice guides you to engage with not only the sounds but also a series of photographs that connect you visually to your surroundings, enhancing the sense of being part of the park’s ongoing story.

Canadian artist Janet Cardiff, known for her engaging audio walks in various global cities, collaborates with her husband, George Bures Miller, to produce works that merge the narrative style of film noir with immersive sound and video installations. Their work has been showcased internationally, including a significant retrospective at P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in Queens. “Her Long Black Hair” is supported by Bloomberg LP and the James Family Foundation, providing a captivating alternative to conventional city tours and inviting participants to a contemplative interaction with one of New York’s most famous landscapes.

Things to Note about It:

  • Completely Free
  • Outdoors
  • Asynchronous