Why WSI?

I have decided to call my part of Geo Art Cache Where Spheres Intersect as it combines the science behind GPS and the notion of fields of knowledge and interest that make us who we are and help shape the landscape around us. Here is what I plan to do:

The intention is to create a series of caches that respond to a local fact or theme. Each cache will provide part of a clue to find a final prize cache. An overall aim of the series is to underline the human experience of geocaching and to promote the sustainable side of the activity and so caches will be sited for access on foot, by bicycle or by public transport.

My starting point will be desk-based research; to get a feel for the whole Yorkshire Dales region and to establish an understanding of broad topics such as geology, topography, industry, culture and traditions. Through this phase I will begin to identify themes that the individual caches might represent. [January / February]

At this stage it will be important to begin discussing practicalities with people who know the area. The project has certain aspirations and one is to promote quieter parts of the area, other factors might be sensitivity to local land ownership issues and environmental / sustainability concerns.

It may be that the themes themselves dictate exact locations for the caches but the next step will be to get out in the landscape to identify potential sites using the background knowledge gained in the first phase. This knowledge will be augmented by the discussions outlined above. [February / March]

I will identify 6 to 8 themes and cache locations and ideally this series will form a narrative that builds towards a final ‘secret’ cache that gives successful geocachers information to obtain their hard-earned ‘prize’. This prize will be in the form of a limited-edition artist’s book.

This series of caches will have a pre-launch presence at the Leeds Artists Book Fair in mid-March. This presence is intended to make an art audience more aware of geocaching and to introduce the geocaching audience to the secret world of artist’s books. This identification of secret or lesser-known groups and activities may become a guiding theme through the work. For instance caches might deal with specialist botany or localised sporting events that perhaps have a link to a wider frame of reference but are often hidden from the majority of the population. [March]

The individual caches will comprise standard containers but they may (in addition to the logbook) offer a small physical reward to successful locators. It is also intended that geocachers visiting each cache can feed back their comments about the physical and human effort taken to find it.

The scale of the cache containers will be developed through consultation with existing the project team, geocachers, park rangers and landowners once exact locations have been identified. Caches can then be constructed and sited and their presence registered with geocaching.com ready for the start of the project. [April]

The complexity is in the organisation and linking of the caches. The finding of the caches should be no more complicated than usual but they will vary in location from roadside to high moorland so a certain level of fitness and navigational skill will be required.