Postcards from Google Earth, Bridges :: Clement Valla

Artist Clement Valla created a project that calls attention to the distortions created by applying 3D mapping in Google to 2D satellite images of bridges. Some are pretty far out, the higher the bridge, the more distorted it appears. LINK

ImagineNations :: Wendy Gold

Wendy Gold creates fun variations on the standard globe. Using decoupage, each work is custom designed ... and can be made to order. See more at her site. LINK

Map Art :: Shannon Rankin

Every time I visit her site, Shannon Rankin has found a new way to reinterpret maps. Whether she's cutting, folding, pinning, or obscuring our view, she often incorporates geometric patterns or creates fascinating textures as she works in both large and small scale. See more of her work at her site. LINK

Map Birds and Animals :: Jason LaFerrera

Though I would be more impressed if he were creating these pieces manually rather than on a computer, Jason LaFerrera does a good job of using the textures of old maps to emulate the fur or feathers in his recreations. See more of the work at his site. LINK

Conductor :: Alexander Chen

Based on the NYC subway system, this online map uses the movements of trains and their crossings to create music. Watch it in action. LINK

Ohio Is a Piano ::

Realizing that Ohio has 88 counties and a piano has 88 keys, Andy Woodruff felt compelled to create this little interactive that assigns notes to each county on the map. LINK

Scratch-Off Maps

This is a rather clever idea to track your world travels. And they are available for purchase. LINK

Surnames of the U.S.

National Geographic is currently hosting an interactive map that displays the most common surnames throughout the U.S. Zoom in to see if your name appears. LINK

Typographic Maps :: Axis Maps

Having created maps myself, I can't even begin to imagine the number of hours needed to create a typographic map like this, where every line is actually the name of the road! And Axis Maps has now created them for Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco! See more pictures at their site. LINK

Underground Animals

Animals on the Underground is a project that highlights the animals created within the Underground train maps. The original animal spotting, the elephant, is accredited to Paul Middlewick in 1988. And more animals are still being found. See them all at the official site. LINK

Remind Me :: Royksopp

I do wish the video quality on this were better. The graphic designers out there should still find it worth watching at least a bit of it. LINK

This was the original piece that inspired the Little Red Ridinghood piece posted here previously. LINK

Map Art :: Matthew Cusick

I do wish I could see larger versions of these works by Matthew Cusick made from maps, to see more of the details. LINK

Piece Together :: Twelve Animals

See twelve different animals put together from the same land-mass maps. LINK

Local vs. Tourist

A cool flickr set that shows where locals take photos compared to the tourists. Read more about it and find your favorite city. LINK

Local Globes

I like the concept. See instructions for how to make your own. LINK

The Daily Render :: Nikolas Schiller

Nikolas Schiller is and artist who has taken satellite images from all over the world and created geometric art. You may recognize his work from the cover of one of Thievery Coporation's CDs. I do believe he no longer does a daily render. Last I heard it was down to weekly. Check out his site/blog and see more. LINK

Earth at Night :: NASA

A pretty incredible images of Earth at night, brought tous by NASA. Click to see it larger. Under Data, click on Cloudless Earth (night). LINK

Self Portrait :: Erik Nordenankar

As a graduation project from Beckmans College of Design, Erik Nodenankar came up with the concept to create the biggest drawing in the world. A package with a GPS tracker would be shipped around the world, creating his self portrait. I suspect that the whole hoax thing was most likely created by others who saw the project and didn't realize that it was just a school project, never meant to go beyond getting a grade. But the original link is gone and these are the only links I can find now. LINK

GPS Drawings

With the advent of GPS came the creation of GPS drawings! On land, on water, in the air .... Many can be seen in multiple dimensions! LINK