The Labyrinths of Grace Cathedral

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how the outdoor labyrinth at the Grace Cathedral mimics the design of the archetypal 13th century labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral in France. The author points out that the terrazzo in the Grace Cathedral provides a cold, hard and unyielding counterpart to the otherwise rosaceous, curvilinear, forgiving labyrinthine pattern and the open-air setting suggests nature worship, inviting visitors to contemplate spiritual truths outside of the confines of a religious building. The paper concludes that the Grace labyrinth exemplifies the interfaces between nature and art, between decoration and art and between structural and artistic forms.

From the Paper:

"The space in which the Grace Cathedral labyrinth is contained is expansive yet it is also contained within a definite boundary. On the property of the Church, the labyrinth is nevertheless accessible at all hours of the day. Open hours mirror the open setting and open air. Because the labyrinth is on terrazzo, it feels distinctly man-made. It doesn't feel natural at all; it has no connection with the feeling of running through the woods or hiking. Having to remain in the lines and only go forward is one of the labyrinth's paradoxes: it is curvilinear and seemingly loose but it is also tight and restrictive."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "The Labyrinths of Grace Cathedral." Retrieved Nov 29, 2006 from http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/

More papers on The Labyrinths of Grace Cathedral:

• Book Review # 134510 : "On Max Lucado's "In the Grip of Grace"
• Book Review # 105057 : "Max Lucado's "In the Grip of Grace"
• Essay # 35454 : "The Grace Cathedral"

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