The Journey of Life Labyrinth
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver
The Journey of Life Labyrinth
...is the creation of artist Joe Arnold. Inspired by Thomas Cole's four painting series "The Voyage of Life," the labyrinth is a three dimensional allegory for the choices we make in life. Four life size statues show a possible life path.
Visitors can trace the path of the labyrinth as walking meditation or simply view the statues and contemplate their life path.
Respectful visitors are welcome to visit any time during day light hours.
Overview of the Symbolism of the Statues
The Angel welcomes pilgrims at the center of the labyrinth. Her right hand offers the way. In her other hand she holds a gazing ball at her heart. What do you see when you look upon the gazing ball?
The Child sees himself in a gazing ball on the back of his hand. When the artist was this age he had an episode of parasomnia wherein he saw the world on the back of his hand. What is this strange and magical world that is unfolding before him? In his other hand he has picked up the thread of life.
The Youth is holding the world in the palm of his hand standing at the top of the world. He has used the rope to ascend the mountain and is full of life and its endless possibilities.
The Middle Age person has the weight if the world on his shoulders. The thread of life has entangled him and entrapped him.
The Old Age person has freed himself of the entanglements of the middle age rope. He sees himself in the gazing ball reflecting his life path back to him. What does he see? Does he see magic and mystery in his life choices? Is there a touch of mirth in his gaze? He offers the gazing ball to the visitor - what do you see when you look into the gazing ball?
(A note regards gender and race: the artist had intended to make sculptures that were genderless and not of any particular race, however this proved beyond the artist’s ability. Please consider that these sculptures represent just one possible interpretation of the limitless manifestations of the human form).