"Imagine as if you were walking inside of the earth" Project proposal for Echigo - Tsumari Art Triennial, Japan, 2001.

A space for all people, all ages.

A form that brings people together.

A space that changes throughout the day, as well as throughout the seasons.

A form that makes one feel the world.

A space to feel small in.

A space that will inspire memories.

A space for healing.

A journey

Labyrinth = icon of unity, of wholeness, a self contained form, an orientational figure, a clear path, a world view, poetic symbology of a dance, a journey, of Life.

The Heart of The Labyrinth:

The stage, being the heart of the Labyrinth, is a place for performing arts, live concerts, environmental seminars, school picnics, poetry readings, puppet shows, etc. The heart of the labyrinth will be inlaid with community made ceramic tiles. Ceramics, as evidenced by the local artifacts from the Jomon era (14,000-300BCE), are a testimony of time and culture.

The Labyrinth's Garden:

The Labyrinth is surrounded by a garden of seasonal flowers and herbs. The initial seeds will be sown by the artists, community members, and neighboring mental clinic patients. The most important local resource for this project is the participation from the community of Kawanishi. This project contributes to the mental and physical well being of the community.

The Path:

The route, the dance, the journey.

The walls do not limit the path, but define it.

The path will be made by the artists and the community using "Tataki". Tataki's cement like state is a result of a presurized mixture of earth, limestone, and water. By using Tataki we will give new life to an ancient craft. The path will be made by the people. This commitee will be responsible for the construction of the labyrinth's path. An initial foundation (Tataki, mixed with 10 percent of cement) for the work will be formed. The molds sculpted out of wood frames will be cut and put in place. And the Tataki technique will commense. Estimated time for completion: 2 - 3 weeks.

Tataki is the science of mixing earth with limestone and water, followed by pressure to produce a cement like solidified state. Tataki has proven it's strength over hundreds of years. The reason for choosing limestone as a key ingrediant are numerous. To begin with, it is a commonly used element in traditional architecture, as exemplified in the castle walls of Niigata. By using such a technique we would be giving new life to an ancient craft. In addition, limestone constitutes a majority of the Earth's surface. It's availability has offered much knowledge in tracing the evolution of life and earth history through the fossils housed within limestone. Thus the material gives us tangibly the key to our relationship with our past, and with the Earth.

The making of the piece is in itself a piece. The crucial local resource for this project is community participation. Earth's malleable nature ineviatably mirrors the hands by which it is formed. In this way, by using earth as a medium, we are in essence creating an experience that will permanently trace the fingerprints of those who participate it is creation. We want to create an opportunity for the community of Niigata to actively participate in the art for their community: in the making, and use of. Such a project contributes to the mental and physical well being of the community by bringing together people who have no relations, other than living in the same area. Such a community project gives pride not only to the individual who can say "I made that", but a sense of overall communal pride.

"Common Ground" Park proposal for Echigo - Tsumari Art Triennial, Japan, 2001.

A space for all people, all ages.

A park for the child within all of us to play.

A park that brings people together. A common ground.

A place to meet. A space to share.

A space to feel small in. A park that will inspire memories.

A park that has movement. A park that is fun. A park to explore imagination.

A space to run and play, sit, or slide.

A place to waite for a bus, or simply day dream.

A park made by and for the people of Tsunan Town.


The Children`s Plaza:

A special place, a space for children`s imagination. Could be a make believe boat, or could be a space ship. The children of Tsunan Town will design and create a ceramic tile mosaic which will be inlaid into the inner circle of the plaza.

Stepping Stones:

A series of ceramic sculptured stones will be created by the community and artists. The ceramic stones will serve as steps to cross the river.

Stairs and Benches:

Places to rest, to sit and read, or waite, or watch your children and grandchildren play. Stairs to climb and descend, and move throughout the space. Both stairs and benches will be made by the community, using the tataki technique.

Mountain Slides:

Seasons determine the landscape.

Summer brings green hills to roll on.

Winter blankets the same hills with snow for sledding.

Climbing Wall:

The adventure for young alpinists begins in your local park. A wall for climbing, with your fingers and toes. A space for exercising one`s physical body, and imagining the mountains to come.

A park in Tsunan will be an open air community center. A center without walls that allows the animals and seasons to participate, a common space in nature for people to come together . In this way, would be the ideal setting for humans and nature to coexhist. The making of the park will be a community activity, almost a festival, where the participants (the community members and invited artists) will eat together, drink together, work together, share life for a period of time together. As a result, the people's work will be a testimony of the community for future generations. We want this work to contribute to the mental and physical well being of the neighborhood .

Humans working together with the earth, sculpting our relations for a common goal : community.


Tataki Technique:

Tataki is the science of mixing earth with limestone and water, followed by pressure to produce a cement like solidified state.

The reason for choosing limestone as an ingrediant is numerous. To begin with, it is a commonly used element in traditional architecture, as exemplified in the castle walls of Niigata. By using such a technique we would be giving new life to an ancient craft. In addition, limestone constitutes a majority of the Earth's surface. It's availability has offered much knowledge in tracing the evolution of life and earth history through the fossils housed within limestone. Thus the material gives us tangibly the key to our relationship with our past, and with the Earth.



Ceramics:

Clay's malleable nature ineviatably mirrors the hands by which it is formed. In this way, by using earth as a medium, we are in essence creating an experience that will permanently trace the fingerprints of those who participate it is creation.

A ceramic tile mosaic will be made by the children of Tsunan and inlaid to serve as the inner circle in the children`s plaza. The tiles will be made in a clay body that is resiliant to the seasons, and high fired to ensure longevity. This stage area will serve as a site for the children`s imagination. It can be a space ship, or it can be a secret. The children`s plaza will also serve as a stage for musical and/or dance performances, puppet shows, a place to have a picnic, and so on.

"We made that!" the children will exclaim when they see what their hands have been able to do.