ARTIST’S MAPS OF WAKULLA TO BE DISPLAYED

By RIDDHI PATEL Correspondent

Two artistic maps of Wakulla County will be on display at one booth during the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival on Saturday, April 8. Consultant Kim Ogren commissioned artist Jane Tennehill Perry to create two maps of Wakulla County that highlighted the area’s natural and recreational features.  
Ogren said she originally commissioned the maps because she felt one of her clients could benefit from the maps being included in their project; however, the client never ended up using the maps. Perry, an artist who has completed multiple projects including a mural in downtown Panama City, was chosen by Ogren as she has had experience creating art that matched Ogren’s vision for the Wakulla maps.
Ogren noted that she wanted Perry to take inspiration from Gazetteer maps and to focus on the natural and recreational features of Wakulla County. Both maps were done in watercolor.
One map is zoomed out to show Wakulla County in relation to other counties on the Forgotten Coast and in the Big Bend region. It shows regional context while highlighting Wakulla County. Ogren and Perry both said they have often seen Wakulla County in the crease of an atlas, and that the goal was to spotlight Wakulla and pull it out of the crease of a book.
The second map is zoomed into Wakulla County. It features locations of towns and cities like Crawfordville, Sopchoppy, Panacea, and St. Marks. The map highlights the Florida National Scenic Trail in red. Landmarks like the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse, Wakulla Springs, the Wakulla Environmental Institute, Apalachicola National Forest, and more are also present in the map. Images of local plants, animals, and recreational activities can also be found throughout the commissioned piece – from trees, birds, and alligators to kayaking, biking, and fishing the map showcases Wakulla through a unique lens.
“I think that for people who love this area of the world, it’s just a reminder of what makes this area so special,” said Perry. who noted that the maps work to celebrate what is unique about Wakulla.
According to Ogren, she and Perry will have a booth at the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival where they will display the original map artwork. They hope to also have some prints of the images. She noted that they are open to feedback and wanted to give the community an opportunity to see the artistic maps of Wakulla. She said, “I just hope they come and get to enjoy it.”