Creative Cartography

Yujin Jung
NOSTALGIA
Ink, Watercolor, Topographic map

My inspiration is emotions: nostalgia to the past and homesick. To show the change of time and space, I made a collage with 3 different maps representing different locations and colors that indicates different environments such as sea, mountains, and prairie. 

Megan A. Clark
SWELL OF LIFE
Topographic Map, Watercolor, Gloss Medium

Water is the life-blood of the planet, it supports the Earth and everything that lives on it the same way our blood and internal organs support us. Although we rarely think of it, we should give thanks for everything that that water does to sustain our planet. 

Evie Bamsey
THE SIERRA NEVADA
Topographic Map, Watercolor Color Pencil and Graphite

An abstract cropping of mountains in the California Sierra Nevada mountains.

Ange Jumawan McNeese
RING OF FIRE
Watercolor, ink and topographical maps

This piece comments on intense dynamics within relationships, illustrating a struggle between the warmth of security and becoming consumed.

Farzaneh Hedayati
FORGOTTEN ANGELS
Acrylic color, Watercolor pencils

These days the only way I can see my sisters is to dream about them.

Daniel Maxwell
97321 ALBANY
Topographic map and Ink

The things we build, if they survive time, age into produced landmarks. I layered the topography of the map over the Albany historic Hochstedler house to express this idea.

Clayton Swenson
BURNING CYCLE
Hi-Lighter, Ink, and Topographic map.

For this piece I wanted to articulate the endless cycle our national forests endure of burning and regrowth. At times intentional and at times accidental, but always under the supervision of humankind.

Priya Thoresen
APPROXIMATE BOUNDARIES
Maps of New Jersey and Arizona, Watercolor

Accordion Book made from repurposed maps of New Jersey and Native American land in Arizona. This book contrasts the geographical and socioeconomic infrastructure of two different places through unlikely juxtaposition of segments of the maps and minimal use of color.

Donell Schmacht
A MAP OF LINES
Chalk Pastel on Topographic Map

This piece was inspired by the rest of my series that I have been working on for the past year. The path or lines themselves have to do with time traveled.

Alexandra Thompson
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Paper Cuts on Topographic Map

My piece looks at butterfly migrations; specifically, how they have followed the same flight path for thousands of years. Scientists have found that monarch butterflies will avoid a certain area on their journey, despite the land being flat, and have theorized that a mountain used to dominate the area many years ago. The butterflies were originally forced to fly around the mountain, though, despite the mountain being gone, the butterflies still avoid the location.

T'sa Pittman
TOPO QUILT
Cut Paper and Topographical Maps

My piece transports the Amish tradition of quilt making out of early 20th century Pennsylvania, and places it into 21st Century American Southwest.

Jarom McMahon
ENDANGERED
Liquid Acrylic on Topographic Map

The White Sided Jack Rabbit is one endangered species in New Mexico. It is also one out of thousands worldwide. Unfortunately, many times nothing is done to help endangered species and eventually they go extinct.

Jonathan R. Wright
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER
Collagraph on Map 

It's an Abstract Collagraph print I did of the Newman Center on University. I was drawn to the historical and traditional features the center has.

Mackenzie Hummel
BEASTLY ADOLESCENCE
Map, Ink, and copic markers

Growing up and finding yourself can be an ugly process.

Kaela Meyer
GENESIS
Topographic Map and paper cutting

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place… what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4)

Megan Rhea
CRYPTIDS OF NORTH AMERICA
Topographic map, Paper collage

Inspired by the map monsters of medieval maps, these are some of the important cryptozoological landmarks of the United States.

Juan Jose Oliveros Saldaña
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Charcoal, Ink, Mylar, Topographic Map, Thread

Juan Jose Oliveros Saldaña, using line form and figure, explores the concept of personal development and change through interactions with individuals and environments.

Juan Jose Oliveros Saldaña
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Charcoal, Ink, Mylar, Topographic Map, Thread

Juan Jose Oliveros Saldaña, using line form and figure, explores the concept of personal development and change through interactions with individuals and environments.

X-Avier Corrales
SHE’S LEAVING HOME
Ink on Topographic Maps

Through this piece, I wanted to explore themes of escape, change, and travel, but in a much more ambiguous light. Who is this girl? Why is she leaving? Is she going to chase her dream in the big city? Is she just trying to run away from home? Only she knows.

Joshua Castañeda
THREE RIVERS
Topographic map, Graphite and Colored Pencil

Three rivers is an exploration on the location on the map, once a home for nuclear testing. Showing change and evolution as well as emphasizing the death and destruction of evolution caused by man-made weapons of mass destruction.

Isabel Cervantes
BACK OF THE LINE
Topographic map, Paper, Watercolor, Ink, Pen

This piece addresses the never ending crossing of man-made borders. Taking only what they can carry, desperate people set out on an arduous journey through merciless lands.

Christine Gin
ENCROACH
Pen and Ink on Topographic Map

Encroach [enkrohch] verb: To trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, especially stealthily or by gradual advances.

My piece explores the idea that humans have been encroaching upon the property and rights of animals. As time goes on humans are going to take more and more space, but if we take all the land where will the animals go?

Viviana Lucia Ferreyra
DREAMSCAPE
Topographic Map, Ink, and Watercolor

My inspiration comes from dream like illustrations and animals that can be found in Lake Ontario such as zebra mussels that are covering much of the lake area, and native fish such as coho salmon and walleye.

Elisha Yuhl
HERE BE MONSTERS
Topographic map, Pen and Ink

Historically, monsters have been used in areas that had not been explored yet. Thus, ‘unsurveyed area’ has come to mean that monsters lurk here.