New City Arts is partnering with Wildrock and artist Lily Erb to create a pop-up labyrinth at Welcome Gallery from July 20-25. You’re invited to take an ecotherapy break and visit the gallery to walk the ocean-inspired labyrinth. This Welcome Gallery installation is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Image courtesy of Wildrock
When can I walk the labyrinth?
Wildrock’s nautilus labyrinth installation, featuring work by Lily Erb, will be at Welcome Gallery from July 20-25 with the following opportunities to visit:
Saturday, July 20 from 10AM-12PM with Carolyn Schuyler, Executive Director of Wildrock
Monday, July 22: 8AM-4PM
Tuesday, July 23: 12PM-4PM
Wednesday, July 24: 12-6PM
Thursday, July 25: 12PM-4PM
How does a labyrinth work?
Our friends at Wildrock shared this great information and guide with us:
The proportions of the labyrinth are based on sacred geometry — ancient knowledge that is expressed through architectural forms. The proportions of the labyrinth are designed to bring rest, order, comfort, and harmony to the mind. In moving through the labyrinth, the chattering, worrying mind becomes occupied with the action of following the path, leaving the intuitive, deeper levels of awareness free to be explored and engaged. There are other symbolic approaches to walking the path: seeing it as a metaphor for life, experiencing it as a journey into darkness and back again; regarding it as a path to meet with God or a higher power.
A few things to know as you walk:
The labyrinth is a continuous path, not a maze or a puzzle. The inherent hope built into the labyrinth is that there are no false turns as there are in a maze, but that by putting one foot in front of the other we will arrive at the goal of life. A maze is designed to make you lose your way and a labyrinth is designed to help you find your way.
There is no “right” way to walk a labyrinth. The tradition is to walk the path to the center while meditating and praying, stay there a while and then walk out again. The walker cannot get "lost" in the labyrinth.
You can walk to release blocks, to pray, to answer a question, to see what comes up, to set an intention, to forgive, to meditate, to share, to celebrate, to renew creativity, to reduce stress and to listen for guidance…only to name a few. You can simply walk in wonder… You can simply walk in awe… Or you can wonder as you walk.
Why have a labyrinth in the gallery?
One of the things we love most about galleries and art spaces is the unique potential they have to allow an encounter with the unexpected, the connective, the transformative. At New City Arts, we’re always trying to imagine how Welcome Gallery can be used in all sorts of surprising ways, taking to heart a Knight Foundation research report that art has the ability to nourish the soul of a community.
What does that have to do with walking in circles? From ancient Greek mythology to Hopi symbology, and the Medieval Chartres Cathedral floor to Spiral Jetty, the archetype of the labyrinth has long and remarkable history in culture, spirituality, and art. With a single path winding to the center and back out again, the labyrinth is a celebrated life metaphor and walking meditation.
Featuring work by Lily Erb, and constructed of natural elements, we hope this labyrinth installation offers you a much-needed break and provides you with an opportunity for an intentional, winding walk that leaves you feeling a bit more grounded, connected, and nourished.
Located at 114 3rd St. NE, Welcome Gallery is downtown, storefront art space in Charlottesville, VA, run by New City Arts Initiative, a non-profit community arts organization. This same location houses NCAI staff offices and a studio space.
