Bits of Color
Color-Hunting in Lincoln Park
What is a map? How do Krygier & Wood define a map? How is a map related to the world it depicts? Why do we make maps?
A map is an interpretation of an area by focusing on specific pieces and showing those pieces in an organized manner. In a similar style, Krygier and Wood defined a map as a proposition of a reality. That means that mapmakers look at an area and create something with the original place serving as inspiration. It is not the actual place it depicts nor can it accurately be called a representation of a place. The real world has too much in it to ever be fully captured in a map, but a mapmaker can take pieces of the real world to make their own unique creation. People can use those creations to help themselves understand the real world, but they cannot accurately experience it through a map. Therefore, maps are made to provide insight on and pieces of information about the world rather than represent it. Maps are simplified realities and could never hope to fully depict the world we live in.
162 words
10:43 AM → Fallen leaves. This was in a residential area, so it was fairly quiet except for a couple of guys out talking on their porch.The leaves themselves looked wet from the morning’s rain.
10:46 AM → Terracotta pots. Back in an alleyway, I found two pots connected to the porch posts of a house. They didn’t seem to be holding any plants currently. There were no cars or people in the alley with me, so the area was silent and slightly ominous. It smelt like garbage.
10:49 AM → Interior wall. I was surprised to find this green wall in an abandoned restaurant. On the opposite side, the wall was bright red. Clean glass in good condition covered the entire front of the empty room, so I guess it hasn’t been closed down for too long. Because it was Saturday morning, there was a decent number of cars driving by. A couple groups of three to four young people passed me, chatting.
10:51 AM → Advertisement. Across the street, the Biograph Theatre had posters up for the show Fun Home. This was in the same area as the wall in the restaurant, so again, the only noises were cars and a few people.
10:53 AM → Butterfly logo. The Lincoln Park Institute’s logo seemed to match my orange swatch. Unfortunately, the business seemed to be in slightly rough condition because said butterfly was falling off the window. A few cars passed by.
10:55 AM → Street marking. On Altgeld St., some yellow/green markings hopped off the street and onto the sidewalk. I suspect they showed where underground piping is. Cars continued to pass by on Lincoln Ave., but there weren’t any people on this sidewalk.
10:57 AM → Irish flag. The pub Irish Eyes had a flag waving outside its door, and I felt the orange part matched my orange swatch. Being morning, the bar itself wasn’t open and spouting music yet, but there was some construction being done across the road.
10:59 AM → Crosswalk sign. Some (competitive?) runners passed me after taking this picture, which was cool. So, they were huffing and talking to each other. A few cars passed.
11:02 AM → Chairs and mural. These were found in an open-air seating area for the Broken English Taco Pub. Inside, there were only a few waiters, so I assume it was still closed at this time. The street and sidewalk were oddly empty as well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t smell any tacos.
