Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Labyrinth





The octagon shaped Labyrinth, 35' feet in diameter made out of
terracotta chimney flues, is patterned after a Classical 3 Circuit
labyrinth that first appeared on Cretan coins of circa 300 to 70 BCE.
According to The Labyrinth Society; "A labyrinth is a single path or
unicursal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual
transformation."

I am interested in making a sculpture for people to contemplate memories
of their lives, of the city, of anything they think is important. Every
six feet along the walls of the sculpture one of the flues is upright
with a medicinal herb or Succulent planted in it. The 45 plants are
arranged so that they will bloom in patterns and at different times
during the sculpture's installation. The sculpture does have not a
concrete footprint and therefore will not have a lasting environmental
impact on the site. The piece is a temporary garden and I will fill in
the holes when it is done, leaving only grass and sunshine. I believe
in the power of beauty to transform a space and hope that there will be
opportunities for contemplation, reflection, and healing.

I choose the site on the industrial canal in the lower ninth ward of New
Orleans because it is one of my favorite places in the world. Less than
a mile from my house, I come here to reflect on my own growth and the
transformations of the neighborhood and City at large. The area is
beautiful and quiet, qualities I tried to embody with my work. I am
honored to put my sculpture here. Please take the time to walk the
Labyrinth and reflect on your own memories and transformations while
engaging in a unique experience with the landscape.

At Sunset on Sunday, December 21st I plan to walk the labyrinth in honor
of the Solstice. I welcome others to join in.

Peace - Christopher Scott Brumfield, November 2008

This link has many photos
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=83081&id=655416347