"Petunia Topography"
Size: 5" x 7"
 
Papercutting on archival paper with vintage map scrapbook paper for background.
Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The configuration  of the land surface on a map is also referred to as relief. The graphic portrayal of this configuration in map form is done by contour lines, hachures, or relief shading. 
 
Besides just relief drawings on a map, topography is a field of geoscience that is concerned with not only relief (or elevation), but also the natural, artificial, and cultural features of a land, such as roads, land boundaries, and buildings. 
 
In the United States, the US Geological Survey maintains accurate topographic maps of the entire country, divided into quadrangles-- a rectangular area defined by north and south boundaries of constant latitude and by east and west boundaries of constant longitude. These maps record elevation contours, roads, populated places, structures, rivers, streams, and bodies of water, land boundaries, and other culturally relevant features. Many different types of scientists rely on these topographic maps for field work or as a base for developing specific maps for their field of study.
 
May this "Petunia Topograpy" artwork remind you of the importance of having something equivalent to a topographic base map in your life. As scientists make iterations of maps all using the same helpful starting map, may this papercut artwork remind you to find something, or someone, who is "home base" for you. Something to return to when the travels of your life take its toll. May you always be able to return to this base, your own topographic map, to find yourself again. 
 
Created as part of  the Cartography of Flowers Collection.
 
This papercut art piece is hand-cut from one sheet of white archival paper and matted with a printed colored vintage map of Italy and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The floral bouquet is made up of three petunia flowers surrounded by various leaves.