Contemporary usage of maps often involves screens where images and directions have a transient life, electronic absences of the hand of the cartographer.

Below is Art Cohn (left) drawing a map (part of which is shown above) in response to questions posed by Paul Bartow, whose work along with his collaborator Richard Metzgar, in the past decade has generated a number of annotated hand-drawn maps. More can be seen here. I participated some years ago, and might be prompted to share my map as well as others’. Paul does no drawing, but his questions all probe the individuals’ relationship with and memories of parts of the Erie Canal, and all lead to mapmaking. Anyone who has ever seen the Erie Canal could participate by drawing such a map. In fact, anyone who’s just heard of the canal but not even seen it could do the same, “a map of expectations” it could be called.

Select maps/narratives have recently been on display at the Buffalo History Museum, as here and below.

Hand-written annotations and

hand-drawn maps recently figured in a presentation Art made at the Samuel Center in Port Byron. Sorry I missed it, but I’d love to hear reviews and comments from anyone who attended.

If you worked with Paul and Richard to generate a map, please tell about your map and experience. Share your map and I’ll share mine.