Map Your Space

Annie Cicale of CLAS presented both a program on maps and mapmaking on Friday evening, Oct. 4, at NC State Crafts Center in Raleigh, and a two-day weekend workshop, Map Your Space, hosted by TCG on Oct. 5 and 6. The workshop was presented by CLAS and hosted by TCG.

Map Your Space, a Presentation by Annie Cicale

October 4, 2019
Hors d’oeuvres at 6:00pm, Presentation at 7:00pm
NC State University Crafts Center
210 Jensen Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
Parking is free and located in the deck across the street

Map Your Space program, with Annie Cicale, hosted by NC State University Crafts Center, Carolina Lettering Arts Society, and Triangle Calligraphers’ Guild.

 

MAP YOUR SPACE, a map design workshop

 WITH ANNIE CICALE

OCTOBER 4 – 6, 2019, CARY, NORTH CAROLINA

Fundamentals of map design will lead you to basic design skills, while thinking about many kinds of maps, from geographical depictions to imaginative maps of places unknown.

With GPS and Google Maps, you might think mapmaking skills are no longer needed, but a handmade map can be a treasure. In this workshop we will talk about the many kinds of maps and then learn ways to make them. We’ll talk about the different information included on maps, see some historical versions that might surprise you, and think about how we engage with the territory.

You’ll choose a topic and then learn some cartographic techniques. You can make a camera-ready version of your space or you can make a fine painterly map to hang on a wall. Those Tolkien maps of Middle Earth can’t be found on your smart phone, and you too might want to design a map of your own imaginary space.

What kind of maps can you imagine making? It is easy to think of a map to your home or a wedding, or a map that captures a trip you have taken. There are also mind maps that display ideas arrayed around a central concept. What about a pair of hiking boots with “scars” from different hiking trails? Or an artist’s apron with splotches of paint from diverse projects? Or even a favorite pizza with information about the assorted ingredients?

We will review the letterforms you know, adapting them to various places on your maps, from simple place names to complicated titles. We’ll learn some of the cartographic traditions to make your map accessible and reliable for your audience, whether it is a map to your house from the airport, a map to a wedding reception or a map of a fantastic place you made up yourself. The emphasis will be on learning the skills needed to make a map – with a bit of fun thrown in as well!

In preparation for our weekend’s work, Annie is offering a Friday evening slide show.

A preview of things to come, the discussion will set the stage

for an interesting and enjoyable learning experience.

** All levels of experience are welcome. Come as you are. **

Annie's map of John Campbell Folk School

Annie’s map of John Campbell Folk School

SUPPLY LIST:

  • Pencils (mostly an HB, if that’s your favorite)

  • Eraser(s)

  • Basic calligraphy supplies, including broad edged, pointed and monoline pens. We’ll use the monoline for small writing; you can use a roller ball or other favorite small instrument.

  • Ink: your favorite basic black, or walnut, or color

  • Gouache if you prefer to work in color, with palette, gum Arabic, a few mixing brushes and appropriately sized paint brushes

  • Tracing paper

  • Graphite transfer paper if you have some (Annie will demonstrate how to make your own.)

  • Optional: colored pencils and/or watercolors

  • Scissors and X-acto knife or snap-off craft knife

  • Cutting mat for X-acto

  • Glue stick, such as UHU (the yellow one)

  • Old phone book or catalog for pasteup

  • Road atlas or map of places you might want to use as a source for your map, or sketches and photos of an imaginary place

  • Good rag paper if you want an original frameable map, and/or other papers you might want to try. Annie will be bringing some paper for parts of the projects, so just bring what you think you might want. If you are making a map that is just going to be photocopied, you can work on good tracing paper or 100% rag paper designed for drafting, available from Annie.

About Annie:

The world of books and writing has captivated Annie since she was a child. After a short career as a chemical engineer, she turned to the visual arts, specializing in calligraphy, painting, printmaking and drawing.

The visual qualities of writing became her focus when she discovered the expressive power of calligraphic forms. She brings visual expression to words to expand their meaning, using both abstract and illustrative imagery. She is fascinated with the visual nature of text on paper, working in both traditional and contemporary ways.

With an MFA in graphic design, she teaches lettering, drawing and painting for calligraphers throughout the United States and Canada, in Japan, Spain and Australia, as well as at most of the international calligraphy conferences. Travels to Europe and Asia have expanded her visions of the calligraphic form. She has had numerous one-person exhibits in Montana, Tennessee, Illinois and North Carolina.

Her work has been included in many calligraphic publications, including Bound & Lettered and Letter Arts Review. Her artist’s books are in private and public collections, including Yale University. She is the author of The Art and Craft of Hand Lettering, (revised in 2018). She was co-director of A Show of Hands 2016, the 35th international calligraphy conference, held at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina.

Her interest in maps came from her love to travel, finding that she is often the navigator with a map in her hand. A course in cartography completed the circle, and she began designing maps for clients, as well as assigning map projects to her college students. These highly inventive maps fueled her interest in teaching mapmaking to others.

ANNIE SUGGESTS …

For a fascinating book on maps in general, look for MapHead, by Ken Jennings.

It’s a delightful history of all kinds of maps, with many insights and some clever jokes.

To date, Jennings is the ‘winningest’ Jeopardy contestant of all time, which means

he brings a great amount of intriguing trivia to this discussion.

Note: Map and description of workshop are from the CLAS website. For more info,  please see: http://www.carolinaletteringarts.com/past-events/