What's the deal with maps as art?


Details
A blank canvas for making maps exists in many different forms.
The menus and (so many!) buttons inside a desktop editor like QGIS.
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/e/e/1/600_437976577.jpeg
Or a text editor to fill with things which magically transform into a map inside a web browser.
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/f/1/2/600_437976626.jpeg
But for our guest speakers, the blank canvas is literally a canvas (or mixed media), because they are artists.
Working closely with our friends at GeoPhilly (https://www.meetup.com/geophilly/), we've put together a series of short talks by local artists who find inspiration in maps and geography. Following the talks, we will have supplies on hand to spend the rest of the event making our own map insipired "art."
So join us for an evening of culture and fun, minus any of the stuffy pretension sometimes found at gallery openings or exhibits. As always, no prior experience necessary - simply an interest in maps and learning new things.
Food and Drinks provided by Azavea (http://azavea.com).
Speaker Bio(s):
Angela Minster - Angela is a Data Scientist on the Good Judgement Project and a PhD Candidate in Statistics at Temple University. Angela started making neighborhood maps of Philadelphia in 2009 after buying house in South Philly when her search for Philly-centric art maps came up short. Her work can be found at philamapco.com (http://philamapco.com/).
Scot Wittman - Based in Philadelphia, Scot J. Wittman is an artist who uses maps as a language to speak to human desire and human development. He is represented by Fresh Paint Art Gallery in Los Angeles. The current positions he holds include Dean of the Arts at Rutgers Preparatory School, Head of the Visual Arts Program of Music Fest Perugia Italy, and co-President of the Independent School Art Instructors Association. Shortly after receiving his Masters in Fine Art from Cranbrook Academy of Art he received a National Endowment grant to work with the Newberry Library map collection in Chicago. Chicago is also home to his ongoing grant/residency work with BioNano Engineers. Examples of his work can be found on his website http://www.mapographer.com
Sean Martorana- Visual artist. Designer by trade, artist by nature, painter by passion, creative by DNA. Decorator of people, decorator of places. Enhancer of lifestyles. Collaborator with like-minded forces of awesome. See examples of his work at http://www.seanmartorana.com
note: We expect all attendees to abide by the Maptime Code of Conduct (http://maptime.io/code-of-conduct/).
This event is listed on both groups' pages. If you're a member of both groups please RSVP for just one or the other - not both. This will help us get an accurate head count.

What's the deal with maps as art?