America loves concrete. Urban areas are absolutely covered in the stuff. Everything is made using the stuff. But I do like the fact that they imprint various patterns into the vertical walls they make using the stuff. often it’s something that reflects the neighbourhood. As a large citrus producing area, many in and around Redlands have oranges or orange groves. this, however, is near Loma Linda hospital and has the imprint of the world. It’s a little odd…two portions of a hemisphere either side of the underpass but, clearly, a considerable amount of artistic license in the positioning of land masses.

This brass version of the UN logo hangs in the Council Chamber in Geneva.

“A map of the world representing an azimuthal equidistant projection centred on the North Pole, inscribed in a wreath consisting of crossed conventionalized branches of the olive tree, . . . The projection of the map extends to 60 degrees south latitude, and includes five concentric circles.”

— Official Seal and Emblem of the United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General, 15 October 1946

The olive branches are a symbol for peace, and the world map represents all the people and the countries of the world.

In the week that Europe won the Ryder Cup it seems appropriate to note this little golf ball.

This map is painted on a wall next to a petrol station in Redlands CA. Originally painted in the 1950s and recently restored. I pass it almost every day and love it. What particularly impresses me is that it’s right reading. When you’re stood looking at the wall you’re pretty much facing east. So the map is oriented that way too. East is at the top. You look left and see the mountains and that’s north. Any map in a public space should be oriented correctly. North is not always up!

On the Ile de Re there is a village called Ars-en-Re. This town map reminded me of the then Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger

I went to the Tolkien exhibition at the Bodlian Library in Oxford to see the amazing maps that he had drawn as both illustrations and planning for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Photography was banned but on the way out I spotted this massive tapestry map hanging in the lobby area.

“The Sheldon Tapestry Map of Worcester was created around 1590, one of four such tapestry maps commissioned by Ralph Sheldon. The map is woven in wool and silk. As a concept, these tapestry maps were unique in England, nothing else of this cartographic nature had been created at the time. The map content is almost certainly derived from the county maps of Christopher Saxon (1574-79)” – abbreviated notes from the Bodleian Library

During the UK Mapping Festival Ken organised an excursion to Bellerby and Co’s globe making workshop in Stoke Newington for a small group of map geeks. Peter Bellerby gave us a tour of the workshop, explained some of the processes involved in making these magnificent globes whilst trying not to give away the secret sauce that makes a Bellerby globe so special. Cartographers will be fascinated by the decisions that have to be taken to fit content and labels onto a globe.

Every globe is made by hand, carefully balanced and hand coloured. They take weeks of painstaking work to complete which explains the cost, a massive globe like the Churchill above costs of over £70k! If anyone is wondering what to buy for the map lover who has almost everything …

 

Seen hanging on the wall at the Four Points Sheraton in Bangor, Maine was this delightful elephant bust featuring a historic map. I liked it so much I went and bought one myself, though mine obviously had a historic map of London. You can buy one too…from Cardboard Safari.

 

posted by Ken

As you exit the Serengeti Nature Reserve heading south you enter a wilderness containing the Ngorongoro Crater and game reserve. This map stands in the middle of nowhere helping you to orientate yourself. Ken Field recognised a couple of carto artefacts that indicated the map had been made with Esri software (give away default settings).

Our first “Map in the Wild” because, well just because. GeoMob is a London based meet up group for geo geeks run by Ed Freyfogle. At the end of the UK Mapping Festival, Ken Field presented the UK Cheese Map, an exquisite carved cheese board in the of the UK with over 20 regional cheeses positioned over their places of origin. Ken carted the cheese board from California and arranged for over 20 cheeses to be shipped to his brother’s home and then down to London in time for GeoMob. I’d call that out as an incredible example of dedication to Mappery! BTW 60-70 geeks scoffed all f the cheese.