Revitalization of a University Building Interior: Abstracting Local Geographies through Cartographic Public Art Installation
Open Access
- Author:
- Cherok, Nate
- Area of Honors:
- Geography
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Cynthia Ann Brewer, Thesis Supervisor
Brian H. King, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Applied Cartography
Public Art
University Renovation
Local Geography - Abstract:
- Geography and art are two scholarly and applied disciplines that have become increasingly linked through the emergence of geographic topics in artwork. This connection manifests itself in a variety of art forms, including public art, which vary greatly in scale, form, and purpose. Culture, wisdom, innovation, and economy are among the impact categories of diverse productions of public art. When these pieces are designed to align with the purpose of a space, they can aid in reinforcing its function and meaning. Public art and other aesthetic work fit within a broader discourse of university renovation. Renovations are undertaken to attract and retain students, in addition to enhancing the overall appearance and functionality of the campus environment. This thesis details the creation of a cartographically inspired floor design for a renovated space within the Penn State Department of Geography. The design abstracts Native American foot paths and natural features with the intention of acknowledging local Native American culture and history. This process involved modeling irregularly oriented pentagonal tiles within the building’s hallways, overlaying them with a map of historical paths at a variety of scales and orientations, and generating colored sequence of tiles to recreate these features. The final result of this work is a charismatic design that will be used as a guide for the floor’s installation. In the future, this piece of public art will educate its viewers about Native American history and culture, serve as a source of innovation for experiencing public art, and return value to the department by increasing the space’s aesthetic appeal and solidifying its connection to the discipline of geography.