The Art of CARTography
The
Ball State University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository (DMR) provides online
access to a range of digitized primary source materials, including historic
films and video, oral histories, diaries, photographs, cartographic resources,
and artwork. The GIS Research and Map
Collection (GRMC) has provided access to hundreds of historic maps from its
collection via this repository. But the
newest DMR collection from the GRMC is a set of hand-drawn maps created by
students.
The
name of the latest cartographic collection in the Digital Media Repository is “Home: Artistic Watercolor Maps.” The maps were painted by students in the fall
semester 2016 watercolor class. Hannah
Barnes, Associate Professor in the Ball State University School of Art, created
a project for her students: After
visiting the GRMC in Bracken Library and reviewing hundreds of maps, create an
artistic map that represents the meaning of “home.” (This is actually the second cartographic
project and exhibit that Professor Barnes has coordinated with the GRMC).
Some
of the students created maps representing more abstract meanings of “home,”
while other students created more literal maps of their homes. For example, Emily Dykstra created a map of
her hometown neighborhood (above, click to enlarge) made to look like an
ancient artistic manuscript style. And
Sean Chen created “Bridge” that included a view of Monument Circle in downtown
Indianapolis overlain on a map of his homeland of China. Finn Norris created a beautiful compass rose
of Indiana cicadas on her map called “Unforgotten Memories.”
The
original art was exhibited at the Muncie DWNTWN First Thursday Arts Walk in December of 2016 at the Twin Archer
Brew Pub as part of the Indiana Bicentennial Celebration. The artistic maps were included with maps
created by students in Dr. Jorn Seemann’s geography class and Indiana history
maps created by the GRMC.
For
more information about creating cartographic art using the resources of the
GRMC, please contact Melissa Gentry at 765-285-1097.
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