Oklahoma
Ponca
City
Community Labyrinth, Standing Bear Park
Design collaboration with Lea Goode-Harris, Ph.D., Santa Rosa© Labyrinth
Located
in Standing Bear Park, this 1,100-square-foot labyrinth features
the Santa Rosa© pattern created by Lea Goode-Harris, Ph.D.
This simple yet elegant 7-circuit design is noted for its Pausing
Stone
at the entrance and a Heart Space stone located near the fourth
path.
Sculpted in red/brown, buff, and charcoal concrete paving stones,
the Standing Bear Park Labyrinth harmonizes beautifully with its
environment. The path is 18 3/4 inches wide, extending a total
of 665 feet in length. The path boundaries are outlined with buff
pavers for outstanding contrast.
A 40-foot containment ring and a 3-inch crown ensure proper drainage.
The perfectly smooth surface allows for easy snow removal and handicapped
accessibility.
The owners of this labyrinth requested a center design of four
interlocking circles to represent the interconnectedness of the
varied community elements that came together to make this project
happen. As is so often the case in matters of art and spirit, the
design has come to mean something even more to those who have seen
it.What began as a symbol of community evolved into one representing
the holiness of life.
The beauty of this design is that it incorporates
three important religious symbols. The sacred hoop is central to
the religious beliefs of many Native American cultures. “
Behold the circle of the nation’s hoop, for it is holy, being
endless, and thus all powers shall be one power in the people without
end,” states
Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux Holy Man, in his biography, Black Elk
Speaks. The interlocking hoops
form vesica pisces, pointed oval shapes used in medieval Christian
art as an aureole to surround sacred figures; the vesica pisces
point to the cardinal directions, honoring the Four Directions
of the Medicine Wheel. The intersection of the vesica pisces form
the Flower of Life, or perhaps the blossom of the sacred tree that
blooms in the center of the sacred hoop – the living center
of all that is. Bringing these symbols together in this intricate
design creates a multicultural space in which the whole community
can feel at home.
The Sacred Hoops center symbolizes the emergence of a new sacred
hoop that brings Native and non-Native American cultures together
to form a stronger community that honors diversity. Outreach programs
held during the fundraising campaign focused on educating community
members about their rich cultural traditions and the use of the
labyrinth as a “good red road.”
Tonkawa
Heart in the Park Labyrinth, Designed by Marty Kermeen
Design collaboration with Jeff Saward
(Photo by Ken Crowder)
By
Ken Crowder
The town
of Tonkawa, OK recently saw the exciting completion of Phase 1 of
a project called Heart In the Park, or HIP, for short.
Tonkawa, is known as the Wheatheart of Oklahoma, as wheat is a major
crop in this part of the state. In February, 2006, Audrey and Ken
Crowder concieved the idea of a heart shaped labyrinth which would
be surrounded by
an
historical timeline of the city of Tonkawa.
After researching the construction of labyrinths, a committee of
15 dedicated and hard working volunteers, decided to hire Marty Kermeen
to develop and design the labyrinth. Marty is one of the best, if
not the best, labyrinth builders in the world. He and his wife Debi
own and operate the company Labyrinths In Stone, a division of their
parent company, Artistic Pavers.
We found out that it is one thing to talk about a heart shaped labyrinth,
and another thing to design one that is actually capable of being
built, and retaining the inherent heart shape. Marty made many drawings
and they were narrowed down to one. With the assistance of labyrinth
historian and author, Jeff Saward, of the UK, Marty presented us
with a beautiful design that could actually be built.
Marty and his assistant Jorge Puga, arrived in Tonkawa,
and 18 days later, the labyrinth was completed. Marty and Jorge are
truly amazing to watch. They don't know the meaning of a day off
once they start the construction of a project. Seeing them
produce this beautiful labyrinth with such
care and meticulous perfection, everyone who comes to see the project,
have come away
with respect and admiration for what Marty and Jorge have done.