The internet can be a weird and terrifying place, especially in this day and age. There is vitriol and venom spewed on the daily. Most of us are just here for videos of cats being scared by cucumbers or dogs seeing servicemembers return home from overseas and losing their mind. The internet, however, and specifically the wild world of Twitter, can also be a place to learn and discover. Obviously you are here for some form of Orioles content, much like I am regularly. Yesterday, I came across one of my favorite pieces of O’s content in some time. While haplessly scrolling my timeline, I came across a beautiful piece of art.
What’s unique about Daniel Duffy’s work is that it includes words to make up the image. In the case of the Oriole Park at Camden Yards piece, the name of every player in Orioles history is hidden within the work. It’s fascinating to slowly scroll your eyes across the work and find the names of Hall of Famers like Ripken, Murrary, Robinson and Palmer. Then, all of a sudden, you spot the names of today’s O’s stars like Jones, Davis and Mancini. Duffy’s decision to take on the project of Camden Yards was made in an effort to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic ballpark. It took him almost 70 hours to complete.
Duffy left his regular job in 2008 and started doing word art full time. He began by commemorating Philadelphia sports teams, athletes and landmarks, and has since expanded his work to other major cities and celebrities. You can find the likes of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. in word art. There’s also images of icons like Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra to be discovered. If city skylines are your thing, you can even get a hold of those from New York City, Philadelphia and of course, Baltimore. Duffy’s entire collection can be found at ArtOfWords.com.
