in a hospital bed
In 2022 life took a turn, and I found myself in hospital for extended periods of time. It has been said that faced with mortality we are changed and think about life differently. In a bed, in a hospital, I had time to think about what I would like to do going forward. I was very unwell and my mind wandered to deep places, far away from people and opinions.
I found myself pondering about the desire for a field, away from the business of town. As I pondered on this desire for a field, a labyrinth revealed itself in my imagination. If I were to work with people again, I would want it to be with something I truly believed in, and I could see in my minds eye people relating to walking a labyrinth in a field.
Previously, pre-hospital, I had been working as an Art Therapist, often in the social service sector. Due to the illness I did not have the capacity to hold people in a therapeutic way. I also questioned whether it was the most beneficial way to even help people. I couldn’t imagine working that way anymore.
About eight months later I was sitting in Ch-alice Gallery, part of my exhibition had me hosting a community painting. I invited the public to come and contribute. A lady came in to visit the gallery and stayed for a cup of tea. As we spoke I mentioned that I was looking for a field to make a labyrinth, to which she responded that she both had a field and wanted a labyrinth.