CARTOGRAPHICS Curatorial statement:

Maps are visual representations of how we view the world; They become instruments of our physical and psychological positioning within space. Their cartographic elements dictate our daily positioning reminding us of the real and imagined borders that determine our realities, making us aware of where we belong. Interpreted as memorials to historical events as well as personal artifacts, maps document how experiences in both natural and constructed landscapes are archived.

Cartographics is an exhibition that celebrates the creative works of five artists who have reinterpreted the map as a purely directional tool; it is an examination of how these artists are able to question the underlying structures and hierarchies that inform our environment.

The exhibition started out as my final studio project upon graduating from The Ryerson School of Interior Design. The objective was to curate, program and design an exhibition that focused on a topic of my choice. I sought to create a project that would be art-based. The idea of curating an exhibit that showcased the map as an art form was inspired by an article written by Ana Ibarra in Elephant magazine issue 7, 2011. Her perspective encouraged me to delve deeper into the meaning of cartography in terms of its ability to reflect on political, social, economic and topographic factors regarding the progression of the modern cityscape.

By Stephanie Kruschen

Works By: Contexture, Jenn Dodd, Joy Charbonneau & Ed Zec, Shannon Rankin and The National Design Collective

Oct. 5th – Oct. 30th 2012, throughout the public spaces in the hotel.

Image: Volumetric Model of the Great Lakes, 2012, by Joy Charbonneau & Ed Zec