Hand-Drawn Artistic Maps at Ball State University Libraries

Putting “ART” in 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 the repository.  But the newest DMR collection from the GRMC is a set of hand-drawn maps created by Ball State University students.

The name of this latest collection is Maps Fictional and Actual: Mapping Projects from Drawing 1.  The maps were created by students in the fall semester 2017 Drawing 1 class.  Heidi Jensen, Associate Professor in the Ball State University School of Art, created this unique project for her students:  After visiting the GRMC in Bracken Library and reviewing hundreds of maps, create an artistic map—either of an actual or fictional place.  The maps can be viewed or downloaded from the DMR for use in educational research and learning.

The original art was exhibited at the Muncie DWNTWN First Thursday Arts Walk in November 2017 at Twin Archer Brew Pub in conjunction with student-created maps from the Departments of Architecture and Geography.  This is the second year Twin Archer hosted a cartographic art exhibit for Ball State University students.

The artistic maps created in the fall of 2016 are also part of a DMR Collection called Home.  These watercolor maps were created by students studying with Hannah Barnes, Associate Professor in the School of Art.

The GRMC accepts donations of unique maps for the Collection, including hand-drawn and other types of original cartographic works.  For more information about any of these projects, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.