Before

After. And the finished product at 6th and San Juan … with a labyrinth walker. (Photo courtesy of Robin Murez.)

May 1 was Labyrinth Day. This labyrinth had its Grand Opening World Labyrinth Day, May 1, 2010, which just happened to coincide with the Venice Garden & Home Tour that year.

According to Robin Murez, “labyrinths are serene spiritual paths. Walking from outside in and back out again provides a moving medication to release oneself of thoughts and come back out refreshed.”

The labyrinth got fenced when ownership changed, and as a result, weeds took over. Last week owner Josh Perttula and project manager Omid Shokoufandeh, along with planning consultant Brian Silveira agreed that the area should be open until developed.

“Big thanks to each of them,” said Robin “They’ve been great to work with. They completely embrace Venice.” Thus Robin put on her work clothes and transformed the corner.

Back in 2010 Robin had a purpose beyond just making a labyrinth. She wanted to make a statement in an area that was blighted.

“To transform the worst drug dealer corner in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice into a beautiful, interesting, safe & serene neighborhood park, I invited neighbors to join in creating an in-ground labyrinth, a spiritual path,” Robin wrote on her web site, Venicepublicart.com. “We also painted the Bethel Tabernacle Church, landscaped, installed irrigation and sculpted the Mosaic Ball.” At the time the church owned the lot the labyrinth was on.

Robin has left her touching marks throughout Venice. Here a corner, there a corner is a Murez statement. All unobtrusive, yet lasting in thought, when discovered. The “little library,” the “take a peak,” the “wheel of fortune,” and recently the “Charlie Chaplin zoestrope.” What delightful moments she creates and then drops them off here and there to titillate one. Murez has that uncanny ability to transport one instantly from what he is doing, thinking to the imaginative “Land of Gosh” where thought is suddenly changed.

The lot is to be developed but Brian said it will probably take 12 to 18 months for construction to start. So until then, there is a labyrinth at 6th and San Juan.