Georgia Magazine - May 2022 - 30

Around GEORGIA
Continued from page 28
He notes that the labyrinth became more popular during the
pandemic and people walked it for different reasons, including to feel
closer to God, to explore a decision, to come to terms with a health issue
and to find direction.
" In the future, we may offer it as a site for weddings, " he says. " It's
perfect-a place where two people can begin their journey together. "
Franklin's Kite Labyrinth, Franklin
Material: Rock/crushed run (fine gravel)
Size: 40 feet diameter
Year installed: 2009
Reinstalled: 2022
Beside a walking trail that runs alongside the Chattahoochee River in
Franklin, local artists and community volunteers built a labyrinth shaped
like a kite-a nod to Benjamin Franklin, the city's namesake, and the story
of his experiment using a kite, a key and lightning. The labyrinth was built
as a public art installation, with a mosaic-covered bench in its center that
showcases the words " This labyrinth was made for you. Come sit awhile.
Enjoy the view. "
" I think that first design may have been a little too complicated for
newcomers, " says Beth Burgoon, one of the original builders of the sixcircuit
labyrinth. " We recently changed it to an easier design-a threecircuit,
spiral shape. The county and city crews came out, scraped it and
put down new crushed-run gravel for us. We put it back together in its new
orientation. "
Like other public art, it has fallen prey to vandals through the years.
" But we put it back together, " she says. " We love to see people discover
it for the first time and walk it. It's here to make people happy. "
Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer who lives in Adairsville.
30 Georgia Magazine May 2022
Above: The Franklin labyrinth, which overlooks the
Chattahoochee River, recently was redesigned into a
spiral for simplicity. Inset: One of the original builders of
Franklin's labyrinth, Charlie Rennpage, holds a drawing
and a photo album bearing the original kite design.
Other Georgia labyrinths
* Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Marietta:
This 42-foot, outdoor, octagonal labyrinth has
11 circuits and sharp angles instead of rounded
corners at the turns. It is open during church
operating hours. epres.org
* King of Peace Episcopal Church, Kingsland:
An indoor, 11-circuit medieval labyrinth inside
the church is built in the Chartres style. It is open
only for special occasions. kingofpeace.org/
labyrinth.htm
* Piedmont Athens Regional, Athens: A small,
seven-circuit labyrinth in a park behind the Loran
Smith Center for Cancer Support is open to the
public.
* Rose Park Labyrinth, Macon: The labyrinth at the
intersection of Orange Street and Rose Street is
48 feet across with seven circuits made from
pavers. It is in a park and is open to the public.
lessons4living.com/rose_park.htm
Celebrate World Labyrinth Day on May 7 by walking
a labyrinth at 1 p.m. to promote peace around the
globe or by building a labyrinth in your community.
For more information, see worldlabyrinthday.org.
AMBER LANIER NAGLE
AMBER LANIER NAGLE
http://www.epres.org http://www.kingofpeace.org/labyrinth.htm http://www.kingofpeace.org/labyrinth.htm http://www.lessons4living.com/rose_park.htm http://www.worldlabyrinthday.org
Georgia Magazine - May 2022

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