A map to get you there

The first steps…screen print on map and sizing up

Where have you been and where are you going? From the moment you are born, you start exploring the physical world with your body and your senses. Navigating through life is a journey of discovery. Where will you go next?

This week I’ve been making a map book. Well this past week I was thinking about making a map book, but I didn’t actually get around to doing it until yesterday. The project is an exchange between two linked artists around the world. My artist is in Mexico so I knew I had to start and finish the book quickly as it needs to be in Monday’s post.

We had briefly discussed our collaboration by email. I talked about Mexico and how I had been there a couple of times and had made some simple books using Mexican maps. So then we thought we would send work to each other - I chose to make a map book of where I live, near Murwillumbah.

The first step was to mark the map in some way. I have several silk screens with really old images on them which I keep reusing for new projects. I used a circular cymatic sound image I had made using a cymatic App on my phone. It is the visual sound made by the waves at the beach. Now when I look at it, I can see that the circle has become a motif which I have integrated into all that I create.

This journey of transforming maps into books began at the beginning of the year for an Art & Travel challenge. Making several map books previously meant that I knew exactly what technique to use at short notice for this new project. I’ve made it as a pocket map book to give my artist collaborater in Mexico an opportunity to add to it as well.

Maps are powerful navigational tools and beautiful visual images. When you want to find a new direction to take your creativity, a map can take you there.

The finished stitched book