I have a street map of Seattle hung on the wall in my room. It is nothing fancy, really. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: basic and simplistic, an aerial view of the city with street and neighborhood names. For some time now, for reasons known only to my subconscious, I have been extremely fascinated with maps. I think it is a combination of knowing where I am in the world and knowing how much more is out there to explore. When you view a map of a place you are familiar with, whether it is your local neighborhood, city, state, country or even the world, it is near impossible not to get the sense of fascination with not only the interconnectedness of everything, but also the mystery of places you can see on the map, but maybe never have, nor ever will get the chance to see in real life.

Image: An Octant with Navigation Maps by Morrgan Howarth

Maps provide a captivating look into a world many of us hardly really know. Maps allow us to imagine what life is like somewhere else. And for some, maps provide the very inspiration to create what many simply dream. Maps help us find our way and for some, allow them to create their own way. Cartographic art has been an established trade for centuries. Fanciful images adorn distant lands hailing the call of adventure and exploration. We wanted to share some of our amazing members’ artwork that continues this deep tradition of depicting the land we all tread, and simply want to know more intimately about.

Image: Virgin Islands Nautical Chart by Savanna Redman

Image: Dupont Circle Quilt #2 by Nikolas R. Schiller

You can read an interesting article about Nikolas Schiller’s work in the December 14, 2007 edition of the Christian Science Monitor, “The art of Map Fest“

Image: Illustrated Chesapeake Bay Map by Sharon Himes

Image: USA Cartoon Map by Kevin Middleton

Image: Pittsburgh by Mario Zucca

For the most part the science of traditional map reading has been lost. Most, if stranded in the woods with nothing more than a map of the terrain and a compass, would probably have a difficult time finding their way to safety. I know few, if any people in my generation that have actually bought a map from a store or gas station and plotted their own route of travel. We have instead become increasingly reliant on pre-determined “best directions” thus forfeiting our own exploration. We tend to rely more on services such as Google maps, Mapquest and GPS systems to provide simple solutions to our directional ineptitude.

Maps and our use of maps have evolved and though few in my generation physically plot their own course of travel on a map, the function and creation of maps has far from subsided. According to Dennis Wood, a cartographer referenced in Chicago Public Radio’s This American Life episode on October 19, 2007, titled Mapping, reminds us that “we live in the Age of Maps: more than 99.9 percent of all the maps that have ever existed have been made in the last 100 years.” At first, a startling thought, but upon further consideration, a very agreeable observation.