Deciphering the Map language: a challenge!

The name of the town on the panel above is, in Map Language, Pusuj Sofif. Can you determine what the name would be in English? I'll let you know as soon as someone has given me the right answer.

The Map Language, now abandoned by most of the parishes, is still in use in a handful, most notably New Ukraine.

Palimpsest or pentimento?

Well neither, really, though both terms come to mind when I describe my process for reworking the panels of my Map. Thanks to modern technology I can scan and reprint a panel without having to erase physically the image or overpaint it in order to revise it.

Shown above is the panel which came up in this morning's draw of the cards. I've applied a grid to guide my collage of one-inch squares that will re-interpret the painted shapes. The original version of this sheet is now preserved in my studio archives.

A few panels have undergone as many as eight revisions. Most panels are in their third or fourth generations.

More cards!

Here's another group of nine cards which were recently retired. Well, they weren't exactly retired but were replaced by copies of themselves. The cards get thicker as I amend the instructions by putting labels over the old ones. Then the deck, comprised currently of 114 cards, becomes nearly impossible to shuffle. So, it became necessary for me to instruct myself to make copies of some which were becoming too thick.

I find that I am having to revise the instructions almost with every draw in order to accomplish certain tasks I have set for myself. I am trying, for example, to make two complete exhibition sets because of overlapping shows scheduled for 2015. I am about two-thirds of the way there. In addition to the two show sets I have one complete current working set which will stay in the studio so that my work is never interrupted. The three sets together will account for almost 10,000 panels!

Let me know if you have questions about any of the cards above.

Come and get it!

They're here, and they're beautiful thanks to the folks at Vada Color here in Traverse City. (Pardon my clumsy photo above.) And, yes, this First Edition of Jerry's Master Map is priced at $30 plus shipping ($6 if folded and shipped flat; $8 if shipped in a mailing tube). If you are not in the U.S. just email me (biggouda@aol.com) and ask about shipping rates.

The prints are 20 by 24 inches and are signed and numbered. They show all the panels which composed the May 16, 2014 version of the Map.

Payment by PayPal (sgattic@aol.com) is the easiest for me and, therefore, prefered.

Thanks!

Master Map Prints!

Here's an opportunity to have your own copy of that giant master map some of you have seen at recent exhibitions!

I was at the printer's this morning to talk about the layout for the new, First Edition, Master Map! This composite shows all of the 3100 plus panels, and I have plans to update it from time to time as needed. Signed 20 by 24 inch prints should be available in about a week for around $30 plus shipping. I'll keep you informed!

Come see the Map in Concord!

The show at the Concord (MA) Art Association opened on Thursday, April 17, and the Map installation looks great! Unless I have miscalculated there are 314 panels (or almost exactly 10% of the entire Map) on exhibit.

It's in good company, too. The group show, curated by Ilana Manolson, has as its theme "Personal Terrain" and contains some stellar work by area artists.

If you are in the neighborhood come check it out! The show will be up until May 18. For more info, click the link at right.

Thanks!

And We're Back!

Good tidings arrived from Edinburgh this week in the form of the long-awaited Map panels! The Map has made quite a journey these last few years, and all signs point to more travels to come. All 2,800 panels are safe and sound here in icy old Michigan, just in time for the upcoming exhibition at the Concord Art Association.

The Map will make a second appearance in the Bay State at the upcoming Personal Terrain exhibition in Concord, Massachusetts this April. For those who were lucky enough to view The Map before, come peer into it again as many panels now feature fresh artwork.

Personal Terrain:
Contemporary Mapping
Ilana Manolson, Curator
April 16-May 18, 2014
Opening Reception: 
Thursday April 17, 6-8pm

Hope to see you there!