Our volunteer workers were busy this past Saturday. Too busy in fact to be taking pictures while we were working, but not too busy to bring you these latest images of our labyrinth’s progress.
More Labyrinth Work Scheduled: October 8, 15, 22
Many thanks to everyone who helped clean up the garden space, tote bricks, lay bricks, mix mortar, and provide food for the crew on September 24. Good progress was made. Remaining work includes mortaring in a thousand or so bricks, and many people are needed for this. Coaching is available, so even if you’ve never laid bricks, this is your chance to learn and move the project along at the same time. Come for as many or as few hours as you can. The crews will be there from 9 AM to 6 PM. Snacks, drinks, and lunch provided.
First Successful Work Day
On September 24th, many of us from Prince of Peace, Mark Snyder (our professional landscaper), family, and friends gathered to help construct the labyrinth. Brush, rocks , and debris were removed and paths were cleared while others laid the bricks out in the prepared pattern on the landscape fabric. The next step involved carefully laying the bricks into mortar. A barbecue picnic was supplied and the weather was perfect.
The next work day is scheduled for Saturday, October 8th between 9:00 – 6:00 and we welcome all to help build our community labyrinth.
First Labyrinth Work Day – Saturday September 24, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
The goal for this work phase will be to install the defining lines of the labyrinth circuits. The lines will be brick on a mortar base. The pattern will have been drawn on the ground before the work day begins. Additionally, the main garden spaces need to be defined and the pathways cleared.
1. Brick and Mortar installation:
• moving bricks from pallets to brick layers
• mixing and moving mortar where needed
• laying the brick and mortar (B&M)
• cleanup
If you are skilled at brick and mortar installation you will be a big help!
Tools that will be of use:
• trowels
• joint tools
• levels (12”, 18”, 24”, 48”),
• laser level
• hammer and chisel
• cutting tools
• rubber gloves for mortar work
• additional cement mixer.
Cement Mixer:
We intend to rent one from Home Depot. If someone can pick this up early on the morning of the 24th it will speed things along. A pick up truck may be necessary. We can coordinate the paper work before pickup so you wouldn’t have to bother with that.
2. Garden Space Development:
(less heavy but still demanding job)
• clearing the garden paths of mulch and distributing the mulch to garden beds
• cleaning up and disposing of unwanted debris
• weeding
Tools that will be of use:
• shovels both round spade and flat
• garden rakes
• large buckets
• mattock
• wheelbarrows
• pick up truck for hauling materials to dumpster or woods
Food and drink:
It would be wonderful to have cold drinks and lunch and snack food available to the workers. A portable shade structure would also be handy to cover refreshments and provide a place to retreat from the weather, if necessary. We will have a couple of tables and some chairs.
General Things:
• Friends and family welcome to help.
• Please let Mike Fabian know if you’re coming and talk with him about a possible job for you.
• Please park in the church parking lot.
• Please label any personal items, especially tools. It’s easy to lose them.
• For your own comfort don’t forget gloves, hats, bug spray, sun block.
If you would like to coordinate or contribute to this effort, please let Mike Fabian know.
You Are Invited To Join Us As We Build the Labyrinth
The beautiful deep red bricks have been ordered and on the date of Saturday September 24 (weather permitting) we will all gather to help place the bricks in mortar to form the walls inside the labyrinth and on the perimeter. We will also be preparing the designated paths leading to the labyrinth. The yellow, peach, light gray and white colored beach stone used on paths in the labyrinth and surrounding landscape will be brought into the site at a later date. Please mark your calendar and meet Mark Snyder, our professional artistic landscaper. Mark will direct the effort to where we are most needed. Please bring your own work gloves and share in the excitement. The time and any extra materials that may be needed will be posted at a later date.
Labyrinth construction begins!
In early August we reached 100% on our labyrinth fundraising project. We have roughed out the construction site and are currently in the process of selecting a supplier for the bricks and gravel needed to build our labyrinth. We will post more photos to document the construction as it happens.
Nancy Herrington and Lois Case inside the construction site
Progress of Labyrinth Fundraiser
An informative presentation of Labyrinth Program testimonials by Abbey Aymes, Ellie Crawford, Phyllis Church, and Kate Krehel was held at the Prince of Peace church service on July 10th. While the participants described their experiences and journeys to the congregation during the sermon, Nancy Herrington removed a section of silver tape from a painting of a street in Lorsch, Germany with a labyrinth drawn over the scene. The remaining silver tape represents the amount of funds needed to complete the outdoor construction of the labyrinth beside the church. The symbolism of the labyrinth on the empty street in Germany is meant to represent the journey, frustrations, setbacks, and fears as many refugees of different race, culture and religious beliefs are flooding into their town. The goal of peace, unity and acceptance is what we all are struggling to achieve throughout the world. On July 17th, Dave Herrington held up the labyrinth painting and Nancy Herrington, with great difficulty, removed another section of silver tape from the painting as we grow closer to our goal of full funding for the labyrinth. We are currently $50 short of our goal, as of July 24th, and many thanks to all who so graciously donated the necessary funds. Any additional donations will contribute to the landscaping and paths that are surrounding the labyrinth.
Labyrinth Program Pictures and Highlights
The First Day: June 20th– An introduction to the history of Labyrinths and learning to draw 3 and 7 circuit labyrinths from a seed pattern. Brandi Hebert introduced relaxation techniques and participants walked the labyrinth with a purpose and goal in mind. Homemade lemonade and cookies were shared while each participant chose a journal and started to document their journey for the week. A discussion about performance art and the symbolism used in imagery, sound and body movement in a site specific location was explored. Following images demonstrate early use of the meander or Greek Key, the Labrys artifacts, and the line drawings of the Nazcan culture in Peru.
The Second Day: June 21st- Participants were first shown Tai Chi relaxation and breathing exercises to prepare for the Journey Dance with Arielle Wortzel. The two hour dance experience on the labyrinth was exhilarating and the beautiful music that Arielle played connected us in new ways with the energy of our bodies and with each other. The sacred symbolism of the labyrinth also added significant meaning to our dances and suggested ways to move in the space. We all discussed the experience afterwards and wrote in our journals while having cookies and lemonade.
The Third Day: June 23rd- Participants were first given journals and a brief understanding of the history of labyrinths along with a video of contemporary sand labyrinths. Lance Herrington gave a thorough demonstration of his sound project in Santorini for a museum. We proceeded to walk the labyrinth and used the finger labyrinth while focused on the idea of our personal journey. Lance then gave a demonstration on sound and the resonating vibrations that sound produces with different frequencies. Testimonial journey recordings of three of the participants were made while other participants recorded the sounds of chimes and bells. All were asked to journal their experiences while sharing refreshments.
The Fourth Day: June 23rd- Participants had a discussion about their experiences from the first three days. Brandy demonstrated relaxation methods and then participants walked the labyrinth together with the introduction to the processional kite of Juanita Yoder. We then practiced drawing 3, 7 and 11 circuit labyrinths and then proceeded to make personal finger labyrinths.
The Fifth Day: June 24th– The recordings from the Wednesday program were played on 3 outdoor speakers as we walked the labyrinth together. The journey testimonials from three of the participants, the Greek Santorini sounds that Lance recorded, and the chimes/ bells recordings were orchestrated by Dave Herrington so that they played in powerful relationships to each other. We then gathered together and shared our journey experiences and how a performance art piece could be shared with the congregation. We experimented with ideas and materials, measured the site specific spaces where the performance will take place, and flew the processional kite outside. Plans for sharing our experiences from the week with the congregation was proposed. Several participants were available for July 10th and enthusiastically agreed to help make the outdoor labyrinth a reality with a special presentation.
Summer Arts Program Completed
The Labyrinth Arts Ministry Program running from June 20-24 has completed. This blog will remain active reporting in more detail about what happened during the program and tracking the progress of Prince of Peace’s fund drive for building an outdoor labyrinth adjacent to our property that will be usable by the community.
Signup deadline less than one week away
The signup deadline for the Labyrinth Arts Ministry Program is Thursday June 16. If you are interested in attending the entire program or any specific day, please make sure Kathy Nowak in the Prince of Peace office has your registration form no later than noon on June 16.