// Genius Loci //

Giant's Causeway Frame:

Walnut, glass

3' x 2'

2015

Olympia & Crater Lake Topographic Maps:

Western maple and cherry veneer, plexiglass

6 pieces, 3.5" x 5.5"

2016

As a child my dad had, and still has, a prized collection of topographic maps. They were kept flat in a portfolio case and only taken out with great care. He would tell me where we had been and taught me how to navigate them. Now as an adult I find myself keeping and displaying my own collection of maps, most of which are of national parks.

In all of this work I am attempting to capture the essence of a place. I have developed forms and techniques to distill the elements that allow the viewer to imagine themselves in another location. When experiencing an environment first-hand, we are interacting with it in a tangible way. While, for instance, a snapshot can remind us of a split-second moment or a folded map can help us with directions, it is when a physical characteristic of a space is included in a three dimensional design, that a deeper connection can be made to it.

These topographic maps, made of layers of precisely cut veneer, are an attempt to translate a paper map into something more easily understood visually. Due to their handmade nature, each iteration of the map is slightly different. This reflects how each individual viewer will have a slightly different experience and perception of a specific place. The veneers are paper thin: the most delicate form of wood indicating the fragility of these landmarks.

In a similar fashion, the frame captures the effect of staggering basalt columns found at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. This essential element reconstructed in walnut immediately evokes a feeling of connection to this incredible geological phenomena.

We have to care about the places we interact with. Natural spaces, specifically, are essential to pay attention to when considering our place in the future. If we don’t take time to understand and care for landscapes, they fall apart due to a human tendency to colonize and exploit resources. This project is meant to question how we place and perceive value of space.

Contact:

585-703-8587

ecridlebaugh@gmail.com