Season Cycle Labyrinth
December 2015
14′ diameter
Sand, seashells, leaves, tree branches, bark, pinecones, grass, flower petals, and rocks

This piece was created for a final assignment in a Studio Art Design Principles course. The only guidelines of the assignment were to be inspired by a modern artist and the piece had to be larger than 1 square feet.

The piece was inspired by the artist, Robert Smithson, and his work, Spiral Jetty. It was decided that an outdoor installation would be created using natural materials.

The labyrinth is a depiction of the four seasons. Sand and seashells represent summer, fallen leaves represent fall, tree branches, bark, and pinecones represent winter, and grass and flower petals represent spring. The rocks are used for the borders and the center of the labyrinth because rocks are a neutral material among all the seasons. They are also large enough to make a clear path for the viewer to walk through.

Smithson was one of the first artists to move away from the aspects of traditional sculpture and began using land as both a site and medium for his work. He manipulated the earth and used natural materials, especially soil and rocks, to create large-scale sculptures. Since the materials are natural, land art emphasizes the fact that art is not always permanent. It comes and goes, just like the four seasons.