LABYRINTH: Labyrinths in Art and Life is on display at Eleanor Hays Art Gallery, NOC Tonkawa, from November 15, 2023 – January 26, 2024.Curated by gallery director Audrey Schmitz, over forty paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs in the exhibit feature designs inspired by historic labyrinth pathways as well as original creations made by current NOC art students and alumni. Visitors will also learn about the history of labyrinths and their variations in design and function dating from more than 4000 years ago.According to a recent article by Faith Hari in the Oklahoma Magazine, “Despite its mysterious origins, the labyrinth is one of the most distinct manmade designs, appearing in places all over the world for thousands of years. Although its winding pattern may resemble a maze, a true labyrinth has only one path that leads to and from its center.”Seven large-scale photographs in the exhibit feature permanent Oklahoma labyrinths found at University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond; Mercy Health Center, OKC; Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant; Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater and Heart in the Park in Centennial Park, Tonkawa. The materials used to create these walking paths include stone, bricks, plants, grass, paint and pavers.Along with pathway-inspired paintings, drawings and sculptures, NOC art students collaborated on a large-scale “art” labyrinth based on the NOC Maverick logo. Titled Maverinth Collabrinth, the work is a collage of student photos with a “walking” path separated by hundreds of red, black and gray hand-coiled papers. Art instructors Audrey Schmitz and Jason McNaughton lead students to explore the potential of labyrinth design in their 3-D and 2-D Fundamentals of Art courses in the current fall semester.Eleanor Hays Art Gallery, located in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center, is open 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during evening and weekend events in the KPAC Auditorium. Admission is free. Contact gallery director Audrey Schmitz at 580-628-6670 or audrey.schmitz@noc.edu for more information.
