Giant Dancing Virtual Geoglyphs

@duncan77mccabe Strava art animation through the streets of Toronto! This took me 121 runs from January to October 2024. #strava #running #toronto #purplehat #active #run #Canada #motivation #madden25 #ncaa #purple #hat #sofitukker #sofi #tukker ♬ original sound - Duncan McCabe

Accountant and avid runner Duncan McCabe has invented a new form of art - virtual animated geoglyphs. Using the Strava app, which tracks GPS movements during exercise, McCabe has transformed Toronto's city streets into a digital canvas, creating mesmerizing animations from his daily runs.

In the embedded TikTok video above, you can see his latest creation: a dancing stick figure shimmying to SOFI TUKKER’s hit track, Purple Hat. According to BlogTo, it took McCabe 10 months and 121 meticulously planned runs to complete the animation, with each tracked route serving as one frame in the final piece.

The Birth of a Creative Vision

McCabe’s fascination with Strava art began after discovering a fellow enthusiast’s beaver-shaped route. Inspired, he decided to transform his daily exercise into an ambitious creative project. Strava map running tracks, essentially “single frames,” became the perfect medium for him to explore animation. By carefully plotting out the movements of his stick figure across Toronto’s grid-like streets, McCabe turned individual runs into a choreographed series of frames. When stitched together the frames of each run become a fluid, playful animation.

A Community of GPS Artists

It is a perhaps a bit of a stretch to claim that Duncan McCabe has invented a new form of art. Thousands of people around the world have used their Strava GPS tracks to create artistic "glyphs." There is even a website dedicated to showcasing these creations. strav.art curates some of the best works of GPS art, submitted by runners, cyclists, and hikers.

Strav.art features everything from intricate, detailed images to simple stick-figure designs, proving that anyone with a little planning can create GPS art. Whether you’re an aspiring Da Vinci or just a beginner, there’s room to express your creativity.

How to Create Your Own GPS Art

If you’re inspired to try creating GPS art yourself, here’s how to get started:

• Plan Your Route: Begin by meticulously mapping out a path that, when tracked, will form a recognizable image.
• Record Your Movement: Use the Strava app to track your run, walk, or ride as you follow your pre-planned route.
• Share Your Work: Upload your creation to platforms like Strav.art.

You don’t need to be a master artist to join the community. Strav.art showcases everything from beautifully detailed works to straightforward designs, making GPS art accessible to all.