Path of Migration I

I found a stack of old New York State survey maps, free for the taking. They were mounted on fabric, with a faint text showing on the back side. Some of the maps were beautiful and interesting in their own right. In some cases the fabric back was more captivating.

I mounted six of my favorites onto panel and started painting birds. I thought about birds flying overhead, looking down on the land. I thought of me down below, looking up to the soaring migrators overhead. This series plays with above and below.

I wrote more about the experience where I found the maps here.

{painted in residency at Arts, Letters & Numbers, Averill Park, New York}

• 15.75×21, 16.75×21.5 framed
• ready to hang
• mixed media – acrylic paint, vintage map, ink
• 1.25″ deep handmade douglas fir frame (built by my brother, Fred Schlabach)