Like a slice of roadside Americana gone global, PBS’ web-only feature “Off the Map” tours 10 artistic oddities in the US, Africa, Asia and Europe. An offshoot of the great Independent Lens documentary series, the site takes a close look at the creators of obsessive, “visionary” art projects like Simon Rodia’s famous Watts Towers. The travelogues, photos, videos, and interviews offer some great insights into what would drive someone to create 300-ton Victorian-era spacecraft in surplus yard in Wisconsin, for example. If you like what you see, “Off the Map” is up for a Webby in the Art category, so hie yourself over there and vote.
Elsewhere:
Roadside America – highway oddities across the US and Canada
American Museum of Visionary Art – located in Baltimore, MD
Raw Vision – journal of outsider art
Image courtesy of beecoterie’s photostream
Posted on Apr 18, 2006 03:00 AM by kristin
