MATERIALS were chosen to represent the Four Elements.
	AIR:  LIMESTONE    This creamy white variety has a few marine snail fossils.    It is soft and chalky because the outcrops were exposed to weathering.
	EARTH:  SERPENTINE    A dark green low-temperature, high-pressure metamorphic rock    composed of fibrous iron-magnesium silicate minerals, with stringers    of white marble and a sprinkling of tiny black metallic magnetite crystals.    It is recrystallized from igneous oceanic crust derived from the    deep within the earth's mantle.
	FIRE:  COPPER    Three 6" x 3/16" plates with Lorena's hammered and oxidized designs    of flames and smoke.
	WATER:  GLASS    Frosted clear and gray 1" - 3" rounded pieces.

STATISTICS
This is a labyrinth or unicursal maze, with a single path to the center and no side paths.
The maze and border are 11 x 11 feet (3.3 m).  They are surrounded by saltillo tile.
The entrance faces West.  The border on the East edge is of 2" plain and decorated multicolored ceramic tiles.
The serpentine path is 168 feet (51 meters) long and has 497 tiles.
The limestone border has 565 tiles and also forms a maze with a single path to the center.  A single trip to the center and back on the limestone path using the method of Theseus is 369 feet (120 meters) in length.

DESIGN
The maze pattern was adapted from a round design by Tom Baxter.
The square version is a hybrid between the classical Roman maze (path travels four quadrants in succession around a square)
and the very ancient classic seven-circuit pattern found in many places around the world.
We wanted a pattern that would be interesting to look at, meaningful to walk for meditation, fun to dance...and would fit our living room floor in 4" tiles.
We experimented with our own designs and squared many traditional round patterns, including those from chapels and cathedrals
at Hohenberg, Chartres, Guingamp, and Ravenna.

Maze cards from the Ironwing Tarot

Maze Carrier:  Box Turtle Shell Artwork HOME