two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow, two men, one man, and his dog, spot, a sausage roll and a bottle of pop, went to mow a meadow.

After two of the artist's walks at Westcott farm earlier this year, there came a point in the proceedings where I knew I would have to 'do something' and what could be more fun than cutting an old style grass labyrinth in their Orchard?

It's a simple enough concept, as a labyrinth is a single track path which weaves back and forth lots of times before actually finishing at the middle. This is different to a maze where there are constant choices, which you must solve to find your way through. The labyrinth is more meditative (though I always seem to end up running with my kids) and the path has kind of visual tricks where you think you will come to the end as you approach the centre only to realise that it throws in another loop before actually showing you it's heart, just like life I suppose.

There are grass labyrinths in the UK, one of which I remember seeing as a kid up in Yorkshire not too far from my childhood home. It sit's on an ancient roman style road, which are characteristically straight but not busy and not near any settlement. In fact it seems to be in the oddest of places, the view of rolling hills is nice but nothing special, certainly not an expansive vista as from a stone circle. The place is off the beaten track so you kind of have to go looking, and even if you do you could go by it without a second thought. I have been back a few times over the years but I distinctly remember saying to my Mum on the first occasion 'what is it' and she said 'an ancient game perhaps'

'Oh, what are the rules?'

'No one knows, somethings are truly lost in time.'

So that one, on a rolling hill in Yorkshire must have piqued my imagination for I have been fascinated by them ever since. So when I thought about Westcott Farm, for Somerset Art Week 2013 I couldn't resist, and drew map after map of paths in preparation. But better still as the orchard is on a valley side it is visible from the opposite side where a group of strong Oak trees stand, and artist Gordon Field hopes to work aswell. These two projects naturally merged with the maze becoming a journey, not just to the heart of the labyrinth, but also past Gordons Oak Tree Aura Viewing Boxes, but more about those another time.

Gordon Field and his mock up
 Tree Aura Viewing Station
(mark I)

So last week I put in the third cut, and the path is now written in grass, over the summer it will take a few more cuts and be in tip top condition for Art Week. But I do have more planned than just a grass path at Westcott Farm, for at the entrance will be a vestibule to act as a transitional space before entering the maze, with these 'rules' or 'instructions' for the walker.

1 remove foot attire and store here in vestibule in sensible manner

2 choose one passport per participant (also known as teasing ticket)

3 read instructions on said passport

4 travel labyrinth path in contemplation of said instruction

5 alight at central destination and scribe on passport in appropriate manner

6 tie passport considerately upon focal tree

7 disengage labyrinth to reclaim foot attire

8 pose new passport question on fresh teasing tag for new attendee

Couldn't be simpler, hope to see you in September?

 

Unfortunately I will be mainly at the Dulverton venue Number Seven manning my exhibition there and guiding people to the Dulverton site specific story walk 'The Watching Way', which asks you to make clock parts out of leaves and twigs for other walkers to find (and add to). 

So lots going on, but the good news is that the maze (sorry labyrinth) is looking fabulous, and after Art Week I hope to do some more with it so follow my twitter and facebook (storywalks) to keep up to date. But in the mean time here is a crazy little 60 second film with the first cut of the Westcott maze.

Enjoy.