San Francisco-Based Artist On A Quest To Map Brooklyn

Jennifer Maravillas of San Francisco has come to New York to continue her creative cartography quest. The artist has already achieved critical acclaim in a variety of arts-based publications, like Juxtapoz and Design Milk for her industrious efforts.

She’s mostly made maps and illustrations inspired by her home turf, but now she’s ready to tackle a new territory.

Her work centers on creating colorful, detail specific maps of urban environments. In Brooklyn, her plan is to “[Create a map] of Brooklyn in found paper.”

On her journey, she spent time in near the N line and blogged about her experiences there:

“The N line through Bensonhurst is surrounded by a series of privately owned gardens. It was here that I met Vinny, the proud owner of a garden that looks almost wild. Every single day since his good wife died of breast cancer a number of years ago he has worked his land. He asked if I had a boyfriend, and warned that some men can be very bad. I ate good portions of his arugula and mint, both delicious and refreshing in the heat. His garden is at about 62nd and 12th.

“I’ve been preparing my entire life for the single scoop of half coffee half chocolate (a Clio Goodman favorite) at Caffe Italia. My table partner, Sol, explained that the ten or so older Italian men in the back smoking cigarettes and playing cards wager only the various offerings of the restaurant instead of dollars. Cappuccino, espresso, gelato, juice, or tea.”

Take a look at Maravillas’ local work, a project titled “71 Square Miles,” and her snapshots of Bensonhurst.